Richard Rosenbaum
1987
Richard “Richie” Rosenbaum began his National Wheelchair Athletic Association (NWAA) sports career in 1963, during a formative period in wheelchair sports history when there were only three classifications — Classes 1, 2, and 3.
As an athlete with quadriplegia, Richie initially competed against Class 1 athletes, creating a significant challenge. Yet his determination to compete—and that of a small group of other pioneering quadriplegic athletes—led to the creation of the Class 1A division. This groundbreaking change recognized the need for fairer competition among athletes with different levels of impairment.
As the sport evolved, additional refinements were made, introducing Classes 1B and 1C to further enhance competitive balance. Over the course of his distinguished career, Richie competed in all three of these classes, helping shape the classification system that became a cornerstone of modern adaptive sports.
Richie enjoyed an illustrious swimming career, consistently placing first in the breaststroke and regularly medaling in national and international competitions across multiple disciplines, including swimming dashes, slalom, and table tennis.
What set Richie apart was not only his athletic talent but also his competitive spirit and humility. He was never concerned about what classification he competed in—he simply wanted to compete against the best.
Through his perseverance and excellence, Richard “Richie” Rosenbaum left a lasting legacy as both an athlete and a pioneer who helped shape the future of wheelchair sports classification and competition.