Cairbre McCann MD
Achievements
Adaptive Sports Hall of FameIn the September/October 1976 issue of Sports ‘N Spokes magazine, the following editor’s note accompanied an article written by Dr. Cairbre McCann:
“To this day, the good Doctor is just as interested and nearly as active as he was 25 years ago. Dr. McCann still travels the universe in the interest of sports for the disabled.”
Dr. McCann is without a doubt the most qualified person in or out of the medical profession to voice an opinion about sports for athletes with cerebral palsy. Dr. Cairbre McCann is the Chairman of the National Wheelchair Athletic Committee’s Medical Advisory Board and a member of the classification board for the Stoke Mandeville International Games and the Pan American medical team.
He has truly distinguished himself among his peers by getting totally involved in all aspects of wheelchair sports. He is one of the very few medical staff professionals in the world who sits in the stands and endlessly watches the athletes in competition. This certainly helps when a difficult classification arises—which happens in all levels of competition.
Dr. McCann has had years of extensive work with individuals with cerebral palsy. Above all, this man has contributed countless hours in structuring the NWAA classification system. His unselfish attitude, knowledge, and time have made this system workable.
Dr. McCann heads the medical team every year when the U.S. wheelchair athletes compete internationally, but he also serves in another important capacity that brings him a lot of respect from the athletes: he is always on hand to applaud an athlete’s performance, and he makes up a goodly portion of the USA’s cheering section.
His interest and devotion to wheelchair sports in general have contributed greatly to the growth of the sport. And besides, he really enjoys wheelchair sports.