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Athlete Highlight

Out of the Dark: How USABA returned light to veteran Cas Werda’s life

By: Stephanie Ross, USABA Contributor After a devastating improvised explosive device (IED) detonation left U.S. Army Specialist Casimir “Cas” Werda blind in both eyes in 2007, the transition to being “completely in the dark” was a tough one. “I basically had to learn how to become this new person,” Werda said. “My entire life, I’ve always been really active and competitive. When I first lost my sight, I thought I wouldn’t be able to do the things I love and enjoy, which was very hard for me. It took a while to come out of it.” At the beginning of…  Read More

When Fatherhood Meets Sports

By: Matthew J. Rodjom Seven years ago, I started my greatest challenge and adventure in life, fatherhood. I am a father to twin girls, Emily and Marisa, who are 7, and a son, Zachary, who is 4. Since my wife, Sarah, and I are distance runners, sports and athletics are part of the daily routine at our house. When the twins were toddlers they were at every race mom and dad ran. It is a pretty cool feeling hearing “Go, Daddy, Go” when my guide and I pass at the end of a local 5k. In 2016, I attempted to make…  Read More

Behind Lex Gillette’s Success: A Mother’s Devotion

When four-time Paralympic medalist Lex Gillette lost his sight at the age of eight, it was his mother, Verdina Gillette-Simms, who taught him how to thrive in darkness. As a single parent, dealing with the beginnings of glaucoma, Verdina focused on raising her son to be active, curious and independent. When he lost his eyesight suddenly, it was even more important to Verdina that Lex grow up to know he could have and be anything his sighted peers could. “My mom has a no excuses mentality,” Gillette told USABA over the phone. “She has that mentality that’s like you just…  Read More

Goalball Couple’s Support Impacts Performance On and Off the Court

For two elite goalball players, the goalball court means more than the place they found their sport – it’s where they found each other. Rio 2016 Paralympic medalist Marybai Huking and 2017 Youth World Champion Josh Welborn met at the USABA Youth Goalball National Championships in 2010. What started as a friendship eventually grew into more. “Our teams became friends,” said Huking. “We were initially pretty indifferent towards each other but got to know each other better and became closer over time.” Sharing a passion for goalball not only brought the two together, it’s helped them understand and encourage each…  Read More

Rio 2016 Paralympian Guided by Elite Ultra Marathoner, Michael Wardian


Paralympian, Chaz Davis surprised us all last December when he broke an American record in the B2 visual impairment category in his debut marathon. Davis finished the California International Marathon in an impressive 2:31:48, winning the 2016 U.S. Association of Blind Athletes Marathon National Championship title in the men’s division. And this just months after competing in the 1500m and 5000m events at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. The following month, elite ultra-marathoner, Michael Wardian won the 2017 World Marathon Championships – a seven-day tour across the seven continents for seven marathons – in record time, averaging 2:45:57 for each. Both runners have…  Read More

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