Paralympic medalist tells stories, signs autographs
Becerra says
bronze, silver
took hard work
By Kimberly Coffeen
Staff Reporter
Tuesday wasn’t the first time Cheri
Becerra had been in a rehabilitation
hospital.
When Becerra was four, she was
diagnosed with transverse militus, an
unknown virus that left her in a wheel
chair for life.
But (Mi Tuesday, Becerra wasn’t a
patient. She was a hero.
A four-time Paralympic medalist,
Becerra made an appearance Tuesday
at the Madonna Rehabilitation Hospi
tal. She was there to sign autographs
and talk to others about her experiences
at the 1996 Olympics and the
Paralympics in Atlanta.
Becerra participated in the Atlanta
Olympic games, where she competed
in an exhibition race. She also was a
competitor in the Aug 19-25
Paralympics, which are for people who
are physically challenged.
The 19-year-old Nebraska City na
tive has been competitive in track and
recreational swimming throughout her
life.
“My brothers, sisters and I always
were outside playing sports just like
anybody else,” Becerra said.
Cheri’s mother Mary Becerra said
her daughter was not dissuaded by her
condition.
“People used to tell me that Cheri
was too young and too inexperienced
to compete and that most competitors
don’t even achieve anything the first
time anyway,” she said.
“Cheri wouldn’t listen to this. She
worked extra hard and wanted to go
for the gold.”
■? />*•'. Scxjtt Bruhn/DN
LILLIE LLOYD, a patient at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital, right, looks at her picture autographed by
USA Paralympian Cheri Becerra. Becerra, a Nebraska City resident, won a bronze medal in a 2,500-meter
exhibition race at the Olympic games this summer.
It has been two years since Becerra
started track wheelchair racing in a re
gional track meet for high school jun
iors.
Becerra’s racing career has taken
off significantly since then. She won
five medals — two silver and two
bronze in the Paralympics, and one
bronze in her Olympic exhibition race.
But those weren’t Becerra’s only hon
ors. She also holds the paralympian
women’s world record of54:62 in the
400 meter race, and holds women’s
U.S. records in the 100, 200,400 and
800 meter races.
Becerra said she raced in the morn
ing and trained in the afternoon and
evening. Becerra was one of the
i •• - ••• »"•••' •
younger athletes; most competitors are
in their mid-to-late-20s. After her
hard work, Becerra experienced mftre
than the thrill of victory in Atlanta. She
also met several famous U.S. athletes,
including decathalete Dan O’Brien,
sprinter Michael Johnson, swimmers
Amanda Beard and Amy Van Dyken
and diver Mary Ellen Clark.
Becerra’s mother said she saw her
daughter as a dedicated athlete, too.
“I have seen what it takes to make
an Olympian,” she said. “It takes dedi
cation, the stress of training, being ex
tremely competitive, and to never give
up, even if you don’t win an event.”
About 25 people showed up for the
autograph session.
u-—
There are so many things out there for
people like myself to do.99
Cheri Becerra
Paralympian
After the session, Becerra left to
compete in a 5 kilometer road race in
Boise, Idaho, to raise money for
women with cancer. On Sunday, she
will participate in the Corporate Cup
Run in Omaha.
Becerra, who plans to attend Lin
• - |
coin Southeast Community College in
January, said many people thought the
only sport paralympians participated in
was wheelchair basketball.
“There are so many things out there
for people like myself to do.”
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