Athlete Feature MCFADDEN SETS SIGHTS ON GOLD
From the day she was born, the odds were overwhelming for Tatyana McFadden. Faced with a life-threatening disease, the goal was simply survival.
In 24 years of life, McFadden’s goals have shifted from survival to being the best in the world at what she does, in a wider range of events than anyone has ever done it in.
McFadden was born in Russia in 1988 with spina bifada, which left her paralyzed from the waist down. A condition requiring immediate surgery, she was neglected for the first three weeks of her life. After receiving proper treatment she was sent to a Russian orphanage to begin her life in a wheelchair, unwanted and disabled.
For six years inside that orphanage, McFadden was forced to fight through adversity and develop an attitude to overcome obstacles. In 1994, Debbie McFadden, working as a commissioner for disabilities for the U.S. Health Department, adopted Tatyana and brought her to the United States.
In another 10 years McFadden became a Paralympic medalist. SPRINTING TO THE MARATHON
For McFadden, her life as a wheelchair racer is just as much about being a motivator as it is about the competition itself.
“Sometimes I go into hospitals and help out with people that are newly injured,” she said in a phone interview. “I enjoy going to schools and talking about my disabilities.”
McFadden didn’t choose her platform with her disability, but she chose to embrace it. That determination has turned her into one of the best Paralmypic track and field athletes in the world.
She considers herself a sprinter and has proven success at the shorter distance – she holds the world record in the 100-meters. However, she will likely be the only world-class sprinter that can also say they have won both the Chicago Marathon and the New York City Marathon.
Stretching her versatility to the max, McFadden has the goal of taking home five gold medals at the London Paralympic Games in the 100m, 400m, 800m, 1500m and marathon. She has won a total of six Paralympic medals in the 100m, 200m, 800m and 4x100m, competing in the 2004 and 2008 Games.
“I am a sprinter and I feel more comfortable in the shorter races,” she said. “My preparation is for London and that is my number one priority right now. I would love to get a sweep in each race, but it is about taking one race at a time. I’m very excited to be going there and I think about it every morning. I practice like I am training for London.”
McFadden is quick to point out the support she has received along the way that has helped her to become successful and extremely vocal about her disability. Specifically, without her mother adopting her from Russian and without the help of sponsorship from organizations like BP, which shows support for a number of Paralympic athletes, her journey wouldn’t have happened.
She dedicates herself very seriously to her training as well as community involvement. This all takes place with the rigors of the schedule of a full-time college student. McFadden is working toward a degree in human development at the University of Illinois.
“It’s hard and you have to make sacrifices,” she said about having a busy schedule. “My day consists of training in the morning and classes all day and studying at night. By the time it is over it’s around midnight. Then I get up and do it all over again.”
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
While her story is an inspiration, McFadden is working toward her degree with the goal in mind of making a difference in other people’s lives in the same way she was helped at a young age.
“I wish to work in a hospital for sick kids as a child life specialist,” she stated specifically. “I was very sick when I was younger and I was able to get help. That is the part that motivated me. I want to make a difference.”
Each competition for McFadden not only creates an opportunity to race, but gives her the chance to share her story. She estimates she will compete in around seven events in a year, which includes shorter road races, events on the track and marathons. She is preparing for the London Marathon in April and will also race the Chicago and New York City marathons in the fall.
She points to the feeling of seeing the American flag being raised while standing on the podium after a Paralympic medal as one of her most proud moments. It’s a significant milestone in a life with a humble beginning.
It’s the chance to have those feelings an additional five times at the London Games that helps to keep her motivated into this summer.
“That is all huge motivation for me,” she said. “I want to be the best and I want to be the fastest woman in the world. In order to do that I have to take smaller steps and turn those into bigger goals.”
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