Turnstone Center to Host USABA Goalball National Championships Sept. 22-24

More than 130 athletes representing 23 teams from across the United States will converge on Fort Wayne’s Turnstone Center September 22-24 for the 2023 U.S. Association of Blind Athletes’ Goalball National Championships. Competitors include nine members of the 2020 USA Paralympic Goalball Team, many of whom trained at Turnstone Center as part of the USA Goalball National Team Resident Athlete Program. The participating Paralympic athletes boast a combined 31 Paralympic Games appearances and 19 Paralympic medals. Members of the silver-medal-winning USA women’s team from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games who will be taking to the court at Turnstone Center include…  Read More

Thomas A. Abraham Becomes Sport Ambassador for USA Blind Soccer

The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes, the National Governing Body for the Paralympic sport of blind soccer, and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Foundation today announced Thomas Abraham as a historic first sport ambassador in the sport of blind soccer. Abraham, who earned the title through his philanthropic contribution to the sport, marks the first time the title has been given for a Paralympic sport in the United States. “We are extremely honored and proud to add Thomas Abraham to our ongoing efforts to spread awareness of blind soccer throughout the nation,” said USABA CEO Molly Quinn. “His dedication to…  Read More

USA Goalball Teams Wrap Up Competition at IBSA World Games

The USA Goalball women’s and men’s teams wrapped up play at the 2023 IBSA World Games in Birmingham, England, on Aug. 27, with the U.S. women’s team placing fifth and the U.S. men’s team finishing eighth. The women’s team went 6-2 overall, including 4-1 in the group stage to advance to the quarterfinals. Facing eventual silver medalist Japan in the quarterfinal round, the two teams went toe-to-toe in an epic battle that saw the score tied 0-0 through two overtime periods. After the first round of shootouts, the teams remained locked in a 2-2 tie before Japan prevailed in the…  Read More

U.S. Paralympian Joe Walsh Elected IBSA Vice President

Two-time Paralympian and 1992 bronze medalist Joe Walsh (Quincy, Mass.) was elected vice president of the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) on Friday during the IBSA Extraordinary General Assembly in Fatima, Portugal. Walsh was one of three candidates for the position of vice president, along with Egypt’s Ahmed Owen and Brazil’s Helder Araujo. “The USOPC is thrilled that Joe Walsh will serve as an integral leader of the International Blind Sports Federation,” said Julie Dussliere, chief of Paralympics for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. “His appointment highlights the importance of embracing diverse perspectives from nations across the globe while…  Read More