Ken Brooks
1994
Ken began his remarkable wheelchair sports career in 1972, competing in every national and international championship available during his active years. In his very first year, he medaled in table tennis, track, field, and slalom at the National Wheelchair Games, and quickly rose to prominence—earning a world ranking of 9th in table tennis after only one year of competition.
Over the course of his distinguished career, Ken competed in eleven World Championships, establishing himself as one of the sport’s most dominant and respected athletes. By the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona, Spain, Ken had become the top-ranked quadriplegic table tennis player in the world, a status earned through extraordinary skill and perseverance.
In 1993, at the National Championships, Ken won gold medals in the Tetraplegic Open event, Class Singles, and Team events, along with a bronze medal in doubles play. His exceptional performance earned him the title of Outstanding Table Tennis Player of the Games by the American Wheelchair Table Tennis Association (AWTTA).
Throughout his athletic career, Ken amassed an incredible twenty-three National Championships, medaled in two Paralympic Games, and achieved multiple podium finishes in Pan American Championships, including gold medals in both singles and team events in Halifax.
Beyond his athletic success, Ken made a profound impact as an advocate and leader for athletes with disabilities. He was widely recognized for his tireless efforts to raise funds, awareness, and opportunity for adaptive sports programs. Notably, Ken lobbied the New Jersey State Legislature to pass a bill providing financial support for New Jersey athletes attending the 1988 Paralympic Games, later overseeing the equitable distribution of those funds.
Ken’s dedication extended to grassroots fundraising and community engagement, where he organized Wheel-a-thons, sold tickets to benefit banquets, and spoke at civic organizations and service clubs to generate support for adaptive athletics. He served as President of the Wheelchair Sports Council of New Jersey, as well as Treasurer and Board Member of the New Jersey Wheelchair Athletic Association (NJWAA). Additionally, he represented the sport nationally as a Wheelchair Table Tennis Delegate at the NWAA Delegate Assembly on two occasions.
Perhaps Ken’s most meaningful legacy lies in his mentorship of junior athletes. As one of the original coaches of junior wheelchair sports, he helped countless young athletes experience the joy, confidence, and empowerment that come from competition.
Through his excellence as both a world-class athlete and a champion for others, Ken [Last Name] embodied the very spirit of the National Wheelchair Athletic Association — leaving an indelible mark on the sport and all who followed in his path.