Tom Foran
2006
Tom Foran enjoyed a long and robust career in wheelchair sports. He began his journey in 1977 when he discovered wheelchair basketball while attending the University of Connecticut. He joined the Connecticut Spokebenders and never looked back. This would be the start of his long career in wheelchair sports.
Tom’s first experience in a racing chair occurred in 1978 when he participated in his first wheelchair road race in Madison, Connecticut. Tom qualified for his first Nationals in 1981 in Seattle, Washington where, as a rookie, he won four bronze medals (200, 800, 1500 and slalom). This was just the beginning. He continued competing in Nationals throughout the 80’s, garnering medals and placing in the top three podium spots in most of his races.
Tom made his first Paralympic Team in 1984. He earned the gold medal and a world record in the 5,000 meters. He also got bronze medals in the 200 meters, 400 meters and the marathon. Tom made his second Paralympic Team in 1988 in Seoul, Korea. He earned the silver medal in the marathon and took 8th in the 1500 and 6th in the 5,000 meters.
In 1990, Tom made the Pan American Team in track. There he took home gold medals in the 100, 200, 1500 and the 5,000 meters and the 4 x 400 meter relay—all of which were Pan Am records. He also earned the silver in the 4 x 100 meter relay that year.
Along with track and field, Tom raced in many wheelchair road races, finishing near or at the top. He ran in the Boston Marathon five times, always finishing in the top five—except for the year he crashed and broke both of his wrists. He also competed in (and won) the Falmouth Road Race twice, the Philadelphia Marathon twice, and the Crescent City Classic. He also had podium finishes in the Peachtree Road Race, Lilac Bloomsday Race, Montreal Marathons, as well as many other well-known road races across the country.
Tom Foran was not just one who took from wheelchair sports. Once he realized the impact that sports had on his life, he too wanted to share it with others. He was instrumental in getting a junior team, The Cruisers, to be sponsored by Newington Children’s Hospital. He also took on administrative work as Secretary-Treasurer for Wheelchair Track and Field for eight years, was on the Board of Directors for Wheelchair Sports USA for six years, as well as being the founding Chairperson for the U.S. Handcycle Federation for seven years.
Tom indeed left his mark on wheelchair sports.