Tyler “Ty” Kaus
Competition | 1988
Hometown: New York, New York
School Name: Duke University
Tyler Kaus was born in Oklahoma City. At age 5, he demonstrated physical talents by setting school records for his age group in the 100 yard dash and the high jump. His athletic aspirations were dashed later in the same year when he was stricken with polio. After seven years of struggling with the disease which kept him in and out of hospitals, he was finally able to go back to school in the eighth grade. He graduated from Rye High School in New York. He then went on to Duke University and from Duke, he went to Madison Avenue to work in advertising. It was while working on the AMF Bowling account that Tyler learned about wheelchair Sports.
Ty competed in twenty-one consecutive National Wheelchair Games competitions from 1967 to 1987, winning more than 300 medals and trophies in bowling, air rifle, tennis, table tennis, swimming, road racing, javelin, discus and shot put. He was a thirteen time Class II/III National Wheelchair Table Tennis Singles Champion and five time doubles champion. Ty also set five national swimming records during this time.
Tyler competed on six U.S. International Sports Teams in 1972, 1973, 1976, 1980, 1982 and 1986. He garnered three Gold, one Silver and two Bronze medals in World and Pan Am competitions. Ty broke the world record in the breaststroke in the 72 Paralympics in Heidelberg, Germany. He continued to be an outstanding athlete in his later years, earning four awards for “Outstanding Master” for athletes over 40. He earned Gold Medals in the New York State Masters Bowling and table tennis, while competing against able-bodied athletes. Ty was a finalist in the Eastern Grand Prix Singles and Doubles Wheelchair Tennis Tournament in 1987 at the age of 60.
Tyler also gave back to the sports he competed in, including as a member of the Tri-State Wheelchair Athletic Association. In addition, he was a member of the National Wheelchair Officials Committee; Selection Committee for International Competition; Executive Committee of the NWAA Table Tennis Sports Section; and a member of the Rules Committee and National Games Events and Formats Committees for the American Wheelchair Table Tennis Association. Tyler was committed to promoting and advocating for wheelchair sports.
