Hugh Smith
2002
Hugh Smith can be considered one of the trailblazers in wheelchair sports. After an accident as a U.S. Naval Aviator caused a spinal cord injury, he began his outstanding career when the sport was in its infancy.
As a Class II competitor (under the original National Wheelchair Athletic Association classification system), he was one of a very few members of the USA Wheelchair Team with the athletic talent to compete in a variety of events. During the 60’s, Smith excelled in the pentathlon competition on the regional, national and international levels.
The events available at that time were archery, swimming, track and field. Rare was the athlete had the versatility and was skilled enough to excell in all five sports. Smith won every pentathlon competition he ever entered. During the same competitons, he won medals in individual archery, track and field events.
Hugh was also a member of the Gold Medal USA Basketball Teams at the 1964 Tokyo Paralympics, the 1965-66 Stoke Mandeville Games in England and the 1967 Pan American Wheelchair Games in Winnipeg, Canada.
As a competitor, Hugh found the rewards for many hours of workouts and training came in winning the events and the cumulative reward of being selected as a team member to represent the United States. To win in international competition proved you were one of the best in the world in your event.