News

“The community I became a part of was one I want to be a part of for life.” -Tina Muir, on her USABA experience

[caption id="attachment_2464" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Tina Muir and Joe Retherford reach the halfway point of the 2019 USABA Marathon National Championships[/caption] Tina Muir is an elite, world-class runner who has posted a personal-best time of 2:36 in the marathon and competed for Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the World Half Marathon Championships. Below, Tina shares her life-changing experience as a USABA guide runner at the 2019 USABA Marathon National Championships, held in conjunction with the California International Marathon in Sacramento. For the first 14 years of my life as a runner, it was all about winning. About being my best… Read More

USABA Welcomes Cat Bouwkamp as Membership and SafeSport Coordinator

USABA is pleased to announce the hiring of Cat Bouwkamp as the organization's membership and SafeSport coordinator. Bouwkamp comes to USABA from Fishers, Indiana, and is a 2012 Paralympian in wheelchair fencing. She is a recent graduate of Indiana University with degrees in recreational therapy and nonprofit management, and was the co-founder of the first adaptive sports program at IU. Bouwkamp has a passion for the Paralympic movement and for people, and she is looking forward to working with USABA members. “In our strategy to build long-term capacity for USABA, I am ecstatic to add additional staff to our growing… Read More

How to Become a Goalball Official

by Sierra Romero Goalball has been a sport for 73 years, each year bringing more talent and excitement to the court. As goalball continues to grow, there is also the need for more goalball officials. A goalball official is the same as a referee in any other sport. Their job is to uphold the rules and maintain the flow of the game. Goalball officials are usually volunteers who have received training or certification to ensure high-quality officiating. To gain a better understanding of what this position looks like, Linda Welborn, a goalball official, provided a peek into her life and… Read More

Blind Soccer Talent ID Camp Held in Chula Vista

by Sierra Romero Twelve athletes gathered in Chula Vista, Calif., Dec. 6-9, to participate in a 5-a-side soccer talent identification camp hosted by the United States Association of Blind Athletes. Athletes and coaches, ages 17-36, spent two full days training at the Elite Athlete Training Center, a recognized Olympic and Paralympic Training Site. 5-a-side soccer, also known as blind football, has been played in the Paralympic Games since 2004, but the U.S. has never fielded a team. With Los Angeles set to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, the U.S. will have an automatic entry into the 5-a-side… Read More

More Than 120 Runners and Guides Compete at USABA Marathon National Championships

Athletes from across the U.S. – and around the world – traveled to Sacramento in early December for the 2019 USABA Marathon National Championships. Fifty runners, including nine military veterans, and more than 70 guides joined USABA for the 11th anniversary of the event. Chaz Davis (Boston, Mass.) and Jody Westbrook (San Francisco, Calif.) earned national titles and Johannes-Reinhard Hupe (Germany) and Westbrook were honored with Richard Hunter Excellence in Running Awards. 2019 Marathon National Championships – Full Results Download In addition to the race on Sunday, runners and guides enjoyed multiple gatherings and meals together to introduce them to opportunities available… Read More