Ann Cody
2003
Ann Cody started her illustrious wheelchair sports career, like so many others, at the University of Illinois in 1981. Starting at the age of five, she was an enthusiastic, athletically-inclined child competing in team sports and continued all the way into high school.
With the onset of a disability, any thoughts of continuing to participate in competitive sports were dashed. That is, until she rolled onto the Illinois campus where she was thrilled to realize that she could compete in a variety of sports on the collegiate level. And compete Ann did!
Ann was a member of five Fighting Illini Women’s Wheelchair Basketball National Championship Teams while earning her B.A. degree in 1986 and M.S. in 1991. Ann medaled in invitational, national and international racing events, including three Paralympics.
From the 400 and 1500 Meter races to the endurance events of the 3000 and 5000 Meter races to 10K’s and marathons, including the prestigious Boston event, Ann set world records and turned in gold medal performances.
Professionally, Ann used her sports management and disability expertise working with the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee (APOC). She was responsible for developing operating plans for four of the sixteen sports represented at the 1996 Paralympics.
Ann consulted with the International Paralympic Committee technical delegates, developing qualifying standards, the competition officials’ selection process and field of play designs. In addition, Ann was responsible for identifying and acquiring necessary sports equipment and developing competition schedules, including coordinating venue operations for Paralympic basketball.
Ann utilized these skills and acquired knowledge to move on, working for the US Department of State in sports diplomacy. Ann has always been an amazing ambassador for wheelchair sport opportunities.