Sharon Myers

Sharon Myers competing

1988

Sharon Myers began her wheelchair sports career in 1968 as Sharon Moore, marking the start of a dynamic and record-setting athletic journey. Early in her career, she met Billy Myers, a national champion weightlifter; the two married and became a power couple in adaptive sports, each excelling in their respective disciplines.

Sharon quickly distinguished herself as one of the few women athletes to compete — and win — across multiple sports, consistently earning gold, silver, and bronze medals at both national and international levels. She served as Captain of the U.S. Women’s Basketball Teams from 1968 through 1970, and later captained both the 1972 U.S. Paralympic Women’s Team and the U.S. Women’s Swim Team.

Over the span of her career, Sharon competed in four Paralympic Games — 1968, 1972, 1976, and 1980 — and four Pan American Games in 1969, 1971, 1973, and 1978. She also represented Team USA in numerous international competitions, including the Stoke Mandeville Games in England and several European invitational meets.

Sharon’s accomplishments were exceptional across multiple disciplines. She set national records in the 100-meter dash, 200- and 400-meter runs, shot put, javelin, and discus. In swimming, she held national records in the backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle, and captured gold medals in archery, slalom, and table tennis.

Her Pan American achievements were equally impressive, as she set records in the 60-meter dash, freestyle and backstroke swimming events, and in the discus and javelin. At the Paralympic Games, she was a member of the record-setting 4×25-meter relay swim team, further solidifying her reputation as one of the most versatile athletes of her era.

After her competitive years, Sharon continued to make an impact globally by becoming a pioneer in accessible travel, helping to develop inclusive destinations and vacations for travelers with disabilities through her work in the travel industry.

Sharon Myers’ remarkable athleticism, leadership, and advocacy made her a trailblazer for women in adaptive sports and a role model for athletes around the world. Her enduring legacy lives on through the opportunities she helped create both on the field and beyond it.