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Racing — Wheelchair racing is an exhilarating event. The Invacare Top End Eliminator OSR racing chair is designed for athletes who have the need for speed. The super-stiff roll-formed horizontal maintube, combined with a relaxed headtube angle for exceptional stability and aerodynamics, make it the choice of champion racers like Ernst Van Dyk, Kurt Fearnley, Aaron Gordian, Adam Bleakney, Chantal Petitclerc, Edith Hunkeler. Diane Roy, Jessica Galli, Amanda McGrory, and Anjali Forber-Pratt.
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Kurt Fearnley — Born in Australia, Fearnley is the youngest of five children and sports were always a big part of his family's life. Oblivious to his disability, he played in everything against his able-bodied brothers and friends. Following an introduction to wheelchair sports and basketball in particular, Fearnley made the decision to focus solely on racing.
Now he is ready for his third Paralympics after winning almost every major road race in 2008. Hoping to build on the two gold medals that he won in Athens, Kurt will be racing in the 800m, 1500m, 5000m, and marathon. He has been a Top End athlete since 1999, and uses a Top End Eliminator OSR racing chair.
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Kurt's Results
SILVER in Athletics - Men's 5000M - T54 (9/11/08)
SILVER in Athletics - Men's 800M - T54 (9/13/08)
BRONZE in Athletics - Men's 1500M - T54 (9/16/08)
GOLD in Athletics - Men's Marathon - T54 (9/17/08)
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Ernst van Dyk — If you add the number of miles wheelchair athlete Ernst van Dyk races in a season, it's second only to the distance he has to fly to get to the respective starting lines. With South Africa as his home base, Ernst has completed marathons and 10K races in New York, Japan, France, Boston, Atlanta, LA, and Sydney just this last year alone.
Ernst will be competing in both handcycling and racing at the Paralympics. He is the defending 2007 handcycling double world champion, taking gold in both the time trial and road race events, but will be looking to take home his first gold from the Paralympics. He uses the Top End Eliminator OSR racing chair, Top End Force K Handcycle, and Top End Terminator Titanium for everyday use.
Meet Ernst Now
 Ernst van Dyk's blog from the 2008 Paralympics
 The airline lost your racing chair before an event?
 
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Ernst's Results
BRONZE in Athletics - Men's Marathon - T54 (9/17/08)
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Chantal Petitclerc — This will be Chantal's fifth Paralympic Games. She already has sixteen medals, an incredible nine of which are gold. She will be heading to Beijing to defend the five gold medals that she brought home from Athens in 2004 - that is the most gold medals that any athlete has won in a Paralympics games.
Beijing also represents Chantal's last Paralympics, as she will be retiring after the event. Make sure to check her out in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, and 5000m track events. Chantal has been a member of Team Invacare since 1993. She races with a Top End Eliminator OSR racing chair.
Meet Chantal Now
What are your goals for after the 2008 Paralympics?
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Chantal's Results
GOLD in Athletics - Women's 100M - T54 (9/10/08)
GOLD in Athletics - Women's 400M - T54 (9/12/08)
GOLD in Athletics - Women's 200M - T54 (9/14/08)
GOLD in Athletics - Women's 800M - T54 (9/14/08)
GOLD in Athletics - Women's 1500M - T54 (9/16/08)
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Edith Hunkeler — At the 2006 World Racing Championship in Assen, Edith was injured in a terrible accident at the finish line of the marathon. She suffered many injuries, including her leg being broken in three places. The doctor told her she would never race again. Now she heads to Beijing as the comeback kid. "With hard work and a positive attitude, I am back," Hunkeler stated.
Meet Edith Now
How did you make that great comeback?
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Edith's Results
BRONZE in Athletics - Women's 1500M - T54 (9/16/08)
GOLD in Athletics - Women's Marathon - T54 (9/17/08)
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Amanda McGrory — Amanda is a part of the University of Illinois racing team, which is sponsored by Invacare and Top End. She is an ace at the long distances, and hopes to go for the gold during her 800m, 1500m, and 5000m races. She is currently the world record holder in the 5000 meters.
Meet Amanda Now
Why is the 5000m your favorite event?
How long have you been racing?
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Amanda's Results
GOLD in Athletics - Women's 5000M - T54 (9/12/08)
BRONZE in Athletics - Women's 800M - T53 (9/15/08)
SILVER in Athletics - Women's Marathon - T54 (9/17/08)
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Diane Roy — Diane is a Canadian racing athlete. She's been a member of Team Invacare since 2004. Her forte is long distance racing. Diane had a great year in 2007. She had many outstanding races and set two new Canadian records in the 5000m and the marathon.
  
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Diane's Results
SILVER in Athletics - Women's 5000M - T54 (9/12/08)
BRONZE in Athletics - Women's 400M - T54 (9/12/08)
BRONZE in Athletics - Women's 800M - T54 (9/14/08)
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Jessica Galli — At just 22 years old, Beijing will mark Jessica's third Paralympics. In 2000, she participated in her first Paralympic Games in Sydney, Australia, bringing home a silver in the 800 meter competition. She competed again at the 2004 games in Athens, Greece. Last year, she was named the 2007 Paralympian of the Year by the United States Olympic Committee. This honor recognizes her outstanding contributions to Olympic sport and for exemplary sportsmanship and strength of character on and off the field.
Jessica is a member of the University of Illinois Wheelchair Track and Road Racing team, which is supported by Invacare and Top End. In Beijing, she will compete in the 100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, and 1500m races.
Meet Jessica Now
Jessica Galli's blog from the 2008 Paralympics
How many Paralympics have you competed in?
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Jessica's Results
GOLD in Athletics - Women's 400M - T53 (9/10/08)
SILVER in Athletics - Women's 100M - T53 (9/12/08)
SILVER in Athletics - Women's 200M - T53 (9/15/08)
SILVER in Athletics - Women's 800M - T53 (9/15/08)
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Anjali Forber-Pratt — Anjali is currently ranked among the top five fastest T53 women in the world for the 100m, 200m and 400m events. Anjali is currently focusing her efforts on bringing home medals in these events from the 2008 Paralympic Games.
As a member of the University of Illinois Wheelchair Track and Road Racing team, she is juggling her six day a week training schedule with the coursework for a Master's Degree in Human Resource Education, and her job as a graduate assistant for Development and Alumni Relations for the University of Illinois College of Applied Health Sciences.
Meet Anjali Now
Why are sports important in your life?
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Anjali's Results
BRONZE in Athletics - Women's 400M - T53 (9/10/08)
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Adam Bleakney — Adam is the head coach of the University of Illinois Wheelchair Track and Road Racing team. He also is an active racer himself and hopes to come home from Beijing with a medal in the 800m race. Bleakney was on the U.S. Paralympic Track and Field team both in Sydney and Athens, and won a silver medal in the 800m in Athens.
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Aaron Gordian Marinez — Aaron has been a Team Invacare athlete since 2001 in both handcycling and racing. Hailing from Mexico, Aaron's most recent victory came in silver in the 1500m and 5000m at the 2007 Pan Am Games. Aaron competes in a Top End Eliminator OSR racing chair and a Top End XLT Gold Handcycle.
 
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