Nils Jorgensen
2005
Nils’ first National Wheelchair Athletic Association Regional Meet was in 1975 at the Bay State Games in Boston. His first National Wheelchair Games was in 1979 at St. John’s University in Queens. From that time on, he competed in nine NWG competitions and represented the USA and NWAA four times in international competition. Nils was a dominant track athlete with quadriplegia in the late 70’s and 80’s.
Nils garnered 34 gold medals and 2 bronze medals while setting numerous national records in the sprints at those nine Nationals. He represented the USA at the 1981 Stoke Mandeville Games (5 gold in two sprints, two relays and pentathlon); the 1982 Pan American Games in Nova Scotia (1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze, including a world record in the 100 meter dash); the 1984 Paralympic Games at Stoke Mandeville (1 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze). He was also given a Lifetime Achievement Award from the New England Paralyzed Veterans of America in 1989.
Nils then went on to found the Boston Pitbulls Quad Rugby team and went on to excel in team sports. Nils was named All-Tournament team at the Quad Rugby National Championships in 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1993. He was a member of the USA National Quad Rugby team that brought home the gold medal at the Stoke Mandeville International Games in 1990.
Nils gave back in so many ways other than his athletic performances. He served as the President of the New England Wheelchair Athletic Association from 1980 to 1985. He worked with Bob Hall at Hall’s Wheels from 1985 to 1990, custom designing sports chairs while overseeing construction and marketing. Nils started a wheelchair basketball team in 1988 at the Massachusetts Hospital School that played in an established league.
In 1991, Nils moved to Oakland and began work as a clinical Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and as a personal trainer, focusing on individuals with physical disabilities. Also during that time, he was a Programmer/Coach for a Quad Rugby team in the Bay Area. In 2004, Nils was inducted into the New England Wheelchair Athletic Association Hall of Fame.