Achilles Awards 72 Grants to Help Athletes with Disabilities Outside of the U.S. Reach the Start Line
Achilles is thrilled to celebrate the 72 recipients of the 2024 International Achilles Athlete Grants. The grants help Achilles athletes with disabilities outside of the U.S. compete in major races and can cover things such as adaptive equipment needs, travel and race entry fees. To qualify for the grant, athletes must have been an active member of their local Achilles chapter and had to submit an application and letters of recommendation.
Congratulations to the Achilles athletes from the below 12 chapters:
Australia (Melbourne)
Brazil
Colombia
Ecuador
Germany
Japan
Mexico
Mongolia
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Peru
Pedro Rodriguez was brought to tears when Achilles Panama chapter lead Geraldine Petterson surprised him at a local race finish line that he would be receiving a grant that would help him travel to compete in the 2024 Berlin Marathon.
For Achilles Mongolia athletes like Bolormaa Banzragch, who is visually impaired, the grant will help her participate in the 2024 Chicago Marathon. Bolormaa is a 32-time champion in the T-12 short-distance running competition at the National Para-Athletics Championship, as well as a gold medalist at the Senior Masters World Championship. Visually impaired since birth and with limited education opportunities, she is the oldest female Achilles runner in the chapter and is known for her generosity and wealth of running knowledge.
Thanks to the grant, Tungalagtuya Choijkhorol, who uses a wheelchair, will be able to purchase a professional racing wheelchair.
“Tungalagtuya is a true inspiration to all those who know her. In Mongolia, where the environment for people with disabilities, including people in wheelchairs, to freely participate in social life, let alone play sports, is very poor, she has not only overcome this condition but also practices sports with great passion,” says Amarjargal Davaa, Operations Director of Achilles Mongolia. “She is our top member, volunteering for the Achilles Kids Program and is always eager to help others. Since there is currently no professional female wheelchair athlete in Mongolia, I believe that she will be a great inspiration to wheelchair users. ”
Learn more about our Achilles chapters around the world here and make a gift today to help other athletes reach the start line.
