Jan Elix
1999
Jan Elix was a passionate athlete, visionary leader, and lifelong advocate for adaptive sports whose career spanned more than thirty years, both competitively and professionally. After sustaining a spinal cord injury in a high-diving accident as a teenager, Jan transformed her life as a talented able-bodied athlete into one of the most successful and decorated wheelchair athletes of her time.
As a young competitor, Jan discovered the transformative power of athletic participation. She rose quickly through the ranks of wheelchair sports, becoming the U.S.A. National Champion in Table Tennis from 1973 to 1983. Her skill and dedication also earned her international recognition, including a silver medal in table tennis at the 1982 World Wheelchair Championship Games in England.
While pursuing excellence in sport, Jan also devoted herself to education. She studied at DeAnza College and San Jose State University, earning degrees in Recreation Administration and Management — disciplines that would shape her lifelong mission to expand access to recreation for people with disabilities.
Her professional career reflected that same commitment. Jan served as a Recreation Supervisor for the City of San Jose, where she built one of the most respected and recognized adaptive recreation programs in the country. Her leadership extended to the Far West Wheelchair Athletic Association, where she served as both Programmer and Executive Director, guiding the organization through years of growth and success.
Throughout her career, Jan focused on developing opportunities for youth and ensuring that future generations had access to adaptive sports. Recognizing the importance of early skill development, she became active in junior athletic programs in the early 1980s and co-founded the Northern California Junior Sports Program in 1993.
Jan also served with distinction on the Wheelchair Sports USA Junior Committee and as both a Member and Officer on the Wheelchair Sports USA Board of Directors. Her leadership included serving as Meet Director for the 1989 and 2000 Junior Nationals Wheelchair Games, and as Assistant Team Leader for the Junior Team U.S.A. that traveled to the 1999 Australian Junior Wheelchair Games.
Beloved for her humor and warmth, Jan often referred to her favorite sport, table tennis, as “K-nick/K-nack” — a reflection of her joy and playfulness both on and off the court.
Through her athletic excellence, professional innovation, and tireless advocacy, Jan Elix touched countless lives. Her work with the City of San Jose, Far West Wheelchair Athletic Association, and Wheelchair Sports USA helped create lasting opportunities for athletes of all ages and abilities, leaving an enduring legacy in the world of adaptive sports.