Barton Dodson
2001
Bart began competing in wheelchair sports in 1979 a few years after sustaining a spinal cord injury from a swimming accident at age sixteen. He was classified 1-A medically and competed in the T-1 classification where he soon became an athlete to be reckoned with in track & field and road racing events. He eventually became involved in the quad division of tennis and the fast growing sport of quad rugby.
A few examples of Bart’s dominance in his class are easy to find. In 1984, he won the wheelchair division of the Long Beach Marathon and placed first in the pentathlon and club throw at the National Wheelchair Games. He also finished second in the 60, 100, 200, 400 and 800 Meter races as well as the shot put and discus. In 1985 at the NWG Bart took gold in the 60, 100, 400 and 800 Meter races plus the pentathlon and club throw. He garnered silver in the 200 and 1500 Meter races. In 1988, he set the national record in the 3000 Meters at the NWG at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania. In 1989, Bart was the winner of the Heidelberg, Germany marathon. In 1991, Bart took first place in the 10K and 15K races in Mobile, Alabama and Tampa, Florida.
Bart saved his finest performances for the international stage at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain. He set world records in the 100, 200, 400, 800 and 1500 Meter races in his classification. Bart was also a member of the world record setting teams for the 4 X 100 Meter Relay and the 4 X 400 Meter Relay. Finally, he set the world record in the 5000 Meter race, completing his dominance in the track events for his classification.
Bart went on to star on the Tennessee Quad Crusaders team when they became national champions in the mid-90’s. Although he won his share of field events during his career, in the 80’s and early 90’s he dominated the T-1 racing events from the sprints and dashes to the distances and endurance events. And he continued to compete on the national and international stage on road races, from 5K’s to marathons.