His request follows, as does the IPC’s response:
]]>– Hug Request (PDF)
– IPC Response (PDF)
Clayton Gerein left us on Friday, January 22 2010 after a short yet courageous battle with cancer.
Our thoughts are with his family, wife Ruth, children Jasmine and Zoe, as well to all those many faces around the world that Clayton called his “Friend.”
As many of you are aware, The Torch relay making its way to Vancouver for the 2010 Paralympics and Olympics made its stop in Regina. Clayton was chosen as one of the Torch Bearers for a portion of the Regina relay. In true Clayton form, there was no way a hospital bed, let alone cancer, was going to stop him from fulfilling what he deemed a privilege and honourable task. This, my friends, was the true spirit of Clayton Gerein.
For many of us, Sport is where our relationship began with Clay. We not only had the honour and privilege to be Clayton’s teammate, Coach and competitor for the past 20 years, but also his friend. This truly is a sad time for us all.
We would like to honour this Champion of life with Clay’s history in sport. Clayton’s first Paralympics was the 1984 Games as a swimmer where he finished 4th in 100 meter Freestyle and 5th in Medley. This only fueled the competitive spirit in him and soon thereafter directed that energy into wheelchair racing, and off he went!
Clayton’s heart was truly into track and in particular in road racing. There it would remain until his final race in Oita, where he raced an unbelievable 23 times! He dominated both track and road racing for a years to come, garnering numerous Canadian, Paralympic and World records in the 800, 1,500, 5,000, and 10,000 along the way. Adding to those are also World Best results in 10K, 15K, Half Marathon and Marathon. Clayton’s dominance of the Quad class, or any class for that matter, will remain unmatched for years to come.
His Paralympic record stands for itself:
• 6 Gold Medals
◦ 1988 – 400 meter
◦ 1988 – 800 meter
◦ 1988 – 5,000 meter
◦ 1992 – 1,500 meter
◦ 1992 – Marathon
◦ 1996 – 5,000 meter
◦ 2000 – Marathon
• 2 Silver Medals
◦ 1988 – 1,500 meter
◦ 1996 – Marathon
• 5 Bronze Medals
◦ 1988 – Marathon
◦ 1992 – 1,500 meter
◦ 1992 – 800 meter
◦ 1996 – 1,500 meter
◦ 2004 – Marathon
Clayton competed in the 2008 marathon in Beijing, completing his sports career with a total of 7 Paralympic Games and 13 Paralympic medals. Not to mention the numerous medals he won at the World Championships.
Remembered as a fierce competitor whose determination pushed him and in turn pushed his competitors further than they had been pushed before, his “pure sport professionalism” took the quad class and the sport in general to another level. There was a “never give in” attitude brought to every race which his training partners knew with every session! Yet, as focused and dedicated as Clay was to his racing goals, he was always the first one there to lend a hand or advice to all his fellow racers. This fact was proven by the number of foreign athletes that actually made a trip to Regina (no small sacrifice!) to train under the guidance of Clay.
Most of all though, we will remember him as a very positive energetic and supportive friend, team mate and athlete. He had a tremendous influence on all who came across his path.
In addition to Clay’s athletic excellence, his influence as a role models for new athletes in sport was a role he relished in. His coaching positively influenced not only the “elite racers to be” but encouraged any and all to get and stay involved in sport at any level. It is hard to describe a true Champion in few words, but if we ever refer to a Champion in Paralympic sport – Clayton is the first name that comes to mind.
Our last and most important memory is the closing of the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing where we had a chance to get together for the last time, it was a great party for all of us, we enjoyed our time together had a great laugh, talked about old times and enjoyed ourselves. We were happy and nothing would interfere with this special moment. This moment will be what we carry with us for the rest of our life. Clayton was there and was the “carefree” person as we all knew him.
It is times like this that we are truly saddened by our loss. Clayton is the great friend, athlete, Champion we all knew and loved. For all those lucky enough to be called “his friend” we go on all the richer people for knowing you our Friend.
Clayton, we miss you but we will never forget your laugh, presence, happiness and carefree approach to life.
Rest in Peace buddy,
Rick, Chantal, Dean, Jeff, Kelly and Peter
The technique is broken down into five phases. In each phase, the hand interfaces with the hand ring at a different location. For instructional purposes, the hand ring will be discussed as if it is a clock face. The right hand ring is viewed as a standard clock face, and the left hand ring is viewed as a clock face’s reflection. The hand is closed in a relaxed fist with the thumb pressed into the side of the index finger during each of the phases. The videos below demonstrate the stroke, and descriptions of each of the five stroke phases follow.
The Catch
Initial contact with the hand ring is made between the index and middle fingers. The wrist is flexed toward the thumb while the thumb presses against index finger to ensure stability. It’s critical that initial contact is made correctly because it dictates the effectiveness of the remainder of the stroke. The point on the hand ring contact is made varies according to speed. Generally, contact will be made between 1:00 and 1:30 at speeds less than 12 mph; contact will occur progressively later on the hand ring as speed increases.
The Drive
The motion of the drive phase is defined by a powerful squeezing in on the hand rings by the arms while the hands drive around and accelerate the hand ring. The hand drives into ring from initial contact with the wrist still flexed toward the thumb until around 3:00. Arriving at 3:00, the flex of the wrist shifts powerfully and quickly toward the pinky finger, causing the hand to act like a whip and deliver tremendous power and acceleration. The contact with the hand moves from between the middle and index fingers down to their cuticles and the thumb’s base. The hand continues to drive until 5:00 or 7:00.
The Release
The wrist should be completely flexed toward the pinky finger during the release. The hand maintains its line of movement as it comes off hand ring and does not snap away. The release occurs around 5:00 to 7:00.
Lift and Stretch
The elbows are forcefully lifted up and back until they reach an optimal stretch. At this point, a stretch reflex will occur in the chest and rear shoulder muscles, causing the stretched muscles to powerfully contract.
Acceleration
The stretch reflex initiates a powerful descent by the arms toward the hand ring, almost like a coiled spring that is let loose. The wrists position themselves once again for initial contact by flexing toward the thumb
For class T-51 quadriplegic racers, the recommended stroke technique is the Quadriplegic Backhand. The hand is positioned at the beginning of the stroke so that the back of the hand is facing the hand ring. Contact is made with the back of the hand between the knuckles and the wrist. As the arms are extended and downward motion is initiated on the front of the hand ring, the hands and forearms turn upward. At the same time, the hand ring is wedged between the last two fingers and force is applied with wrist and elbow extension. This contact and force application continues until the elbows are fully extended, after which the hands are pulled upward with the biceps while remaining in contact with the hand ring.
]]>After a ten year run and over thirty world records The Meet in the Heat reached all of it goals and is retiring as an event. Vie Sports Marketing will not host a high performance track event in Atlanta this summer. Born from the simple desire to have world class Paralympic track events in North America, saving on travel costs and making peaking easier, The Meet in the Heat and the World Series hosted for over a decade. Please look for a new meet, with new focus in summer 2010.
All the best,
Scot Hollonbeck
]]>Come join a night of competition, fun and learning. Athletes & coaches are also invited to the AAASP/GHSA Adapted Track Coaching Clinic on Friday morning. Adam Bleakney the Head Coach for the University of Illinois Wheelchair Racing Team will present at the clinic.
Finishing out the weekend will be the Georgia ING Wheeler 1/2 Marathon on Sunday morning.
]]>In her first race for five years, Sauvage led coming around the final turn at The Rocks in Sydney before being overtaken by fellow Australian Christie Dawes down the home straight.
Sauvage, who won the Sydney race 10 times before ending her glittering career following the Athens Paralympics in 2004, decided to come out of retirement to help commemorate the Oz Day 10K’s 20th anniversary.
Despite a limited training schedule, Sauvage showed she still has plenty of pace in a racing chair, finishing just behind 2008 Beijing Paralympian Dawes in a strong international field. Sauvage, 35, was coy when asked if it was the start of a full-scale comeback.
“At this stage I was just training for Oz Day, so we’ll have to wait and see,” she said. “I’m not sure.”
Dawes was thrilled to finally claim an Oz Day crown and finish ahead of Sauvage, a nine-time Paralympic gold medallist who she had never previously beaten.
And she felt Sauvage, who has turned her attention to coaching in recent years, was downplaying the seriousness of her return to competitive racing. “It’s the first time in 16 years of racing I’ve ever beaten her,” she said.
“It was good, even if she has come out of retirement. She’s in good nick, I think she’s played it down a fair bit because she’s doing well.”
In the men’s race, Australia’s Kurt Fearnley capped a stellar 12 months by claiming a fifth straight Oz Day title.
After starting 2008 with a then-record fourth men’s Oz Day title, Fearnley went on to win both the Chicago and New York marathons, plus a second consecutive Paralympic marathon gold in Beijing.
He has now started 2009 in ideal fashion and the 27-year-old feels there is plenty left in his already-impressive career. “This feels like it’s a bit of a new beginning,” he said.
“After Beijing and New York, getting that for the third time (in November last year), it was such a huge couple of months for me. I feel like this is a new start.”
Fearnley had a difficult Beijing Paralympic campaign, tipped to win four gold medals before ultimately ending up with one gold, two silvers and a bronze. He is already thinking about the London Paralympics in 2012.
“Beijing was incredible, the ups and downs and then to finish in the final race with back-to-back marathons,” he said. “In the back of the mind is the London Paralympic marathon and to get three on the trot, for me that’s Dawn Fraser material. If I could do that, I think that would be the dream result.”
]]>Gasparilla came back on the scene in 2008 thanks to the Challenged Athletes Foundation Florida chapter after a 10-year hiatus and got 42 racers on the starting line. Not bad for a first year and reminiscent of its glory days when the world’s best showed up.
This year CAF and LabCorp are putting up $20,000 in wheeler support. There are a limited number of travel and room stipends, and a limited number of rooms blocked. Register online and get hotel booking info at active.com.
]]>