U.S. Delegation Fairs Well at International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports World Games
Move United, the national leader in community-based sports and recreation for individuals with disabilities, sent 28 athletes to compete at the 2022 International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports (IWAS) World Games. The international competition took place in Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal, November 23-29, 2022. The U.S. delegation included athletes ranging from 14 to 39 years old that competed in para powerlifting, swimming, and track and field. The U.S. finished 3rd overall in ranking (based on gold medals won with 16) and 2nd overall (based on total number of medals won with 60).
Four American records were broken in athletics (track & field), including Madison Hahs in the 800m, Benjamin Foos in shot put and discus, and Lucas Jundt in long jump. Hahs and Foos won the gold medal in their record setting events. Other gold medalists in track and field from the U.S. were Michael Anwar in the 200m, Adaylia Borgmeier in the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m, Annie Carey in the 100m and 200m, Beth Grauer and Danielle Kanas in Javelin, Sayers Grooms in the 100m, 200m, and 400m, Samantha Heyison in shot put and discus, Emily Lopez in the 100m, 200m, and 400m, Derik Smith in the 100m, long jump, and discus, and Austin Spalla in the 100m.
Track and field silver medals were won by Anwar (100m and 400m), Borgmeier (1500m and 5000m), Carey (long jump), Lauren Fields, (100m, 200m, and 400m), and Elizabeth Floch and Lucas Jundt in the 200m, Hahs (400m), Kanas (discus), Lopez (long jump), Janie Richardson and Sam Winter in the 100m, Spalla (200m and long jump), and Chance Wells (5000m).
Track and field bronze medalists included Justin Caine (long jump), Fields (800m), Floch (800m,1500m, and 5000m), Grauer (shot put), Aubrey Headon and Lindi Marcussen in the 100m, Joshua Jundt (shot put), Lucas Jundt (100m and long jump), Kanas (shot put), Grant Pierce (400m), Richardson (200m), Smith (Javelin), Wells (100m and 200m), and Winter (200m and 400m).
In swimming, Ryan Eidelman won a gold medal in the 50m butterfly, silver medals in the 100m breaststroke and 50m freestyle, and a bronze in the 100m butterfly. Brett Forbes won a gold medal in para powerlifting and Joshua Jundt won gold and bronze medals in para powerlifting as well.
“This competition provides emerging athletes the opportunity to compete on an international level,” said Move United Competition Manager Jessica Cloy, a four-time Paralympian and seven-time Paralympic medalist who is serving as the delegation leader for the U.S. “It has served as a stepping stone to the Paralympic Games and other elite competitions for many athletes in the past.”
In order to compete at the IWAS competition, each athlete had to apply and meet certain criteria, including having at least two or more years of competition experience at the national level. The U.S. delegation also included a number of coaches, medical staff, and other support personnel.
The International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) is an international sports organization for athletes with a physical disability and is one of the founding organizations of the Paralympic Games. As the United States’ primary member of IWAS, Move United has fielded many exemplary athletes to the IWAS World Games and IWAS World Youth Games over the years. The IWAS World Games is a biennial event featuring multiple sports, aiming to give aspiring athletes with physical impairments their first taste of international competition and experienced athletes the chance to continue competing.
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