Supporting the Movement
Lakeshore Foundation has a long history of promoting the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. In 2003, Lakeshore earned the designation as an official United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Olympic and Paralympic Training Site which hosts national team training camps and international competitions. Since this designation, Lakeshore has produced 52 Paralympic athletes, coaches and staff, and those athletes have captured 30 Paralympic medals. In addition, Lakeshore is the High Performance Management Organization (HPMO) of USA Wheelchair Rugby. Local Birmingham athletes like five-time Paralympic medalist (Para cycling) Jennifer Schuble also train at Lakeshore to reach their Paralympic goals.
Para What?
The Paralympic Games is the world’s second largest multi-sport event right behind the Olympic Games. It features the world’s top athletes with a disability or impairment. In fact, the word “Paralympic” derives from the Greek preposition “para” (beside or alongside) and the word “Olympic” to illustrate how the two movements exist side-by-side. Twenty-eight sports are offered at the Winter and Summer Games, which are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC). While the name of the sports may differ by country, the IPC calls all of the sports, whether competed at an introductory or Paralympic level, Para sports. All athletes who participate in Para sport are Para athletes, and once an athlete competes in a Paralympic Games then they are considered a Paralympic athlete.
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Training Site
Lakeshore is celebrating its 18th year as an Olympic and Paralympic Training Site. We are honored to continue the tradition of working with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC), training athletes as they strive for the top of the podium. Do you have Olympic and Paralympic goals? For more information, email Meagan Rowe or call 205-313-7459.
