sporty spice

    Many of our favorite athletes have a story that sets them apart from their competitors and teammates. They inspire us to follow in their footsteps, and they are celebrated on the world’s largest stages. Within the large pool of athletes, there are many marginalized groups. The most notable discounted group is, arguably, athletes with physical and intellectual disabilities. These athletes and their talents are often overlooked, but the Paralympic Games serve as an opportunity for the world’s disabled athletes to compete, just as they would in the Olympics. LeAnn Shannon is recognized as one of the many Paralympians that made her mark on the sport of track and field .       Just before her first birthday, LeAnn Shannon was in a car accident, leaving her paralyzed from the waist down. But, from the get-go, LeAnn was a natural competitor. She played sports such as swimming and softball growing up, but her favorite was wheelchair racing. LeAnn began ra...

    Sometimes pure talent can be recognized in female athletes by the sheer amount of accolades they receive. Their talent spans generations and inspires others in their own sport. Brandi Chastain has cemented herself as a long-lasting soccer icon, and the recognition of her talents boomed in the ‘90s.       Chastain grew up in California and began playing soccer at eight years old. Similar to the plot of She’s the Man , there was no soccer team available for her to play on at her junior high school. Her solution: play for the boy’s team ( Brandi Chastain , n.d.). Chastain played for UC Berkley and Santa Clara University , where she made her mark and faced adversity. Like many other athletes, Chastain tore her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in both knees and was out for two seasons ( Brandi Chastain , n.d.). She earned multiple accolades in her college years: All-American; Freshman Player Of The Year; ISAA Player of the Year; and the Honda Sports Aw...