Adam Bleakney This is Me

 View all 11 references Web References

1. 1. KAALtv.com

   KAALtv.com/article/stories/S45 - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/20/2008   Last Visited: 6/12/2008

   Adam Bleakney hopes the third time is the charm for a gold medal.After all, the 32-year-old has been through so much just to get his life back on track.
   
   "I do have a disability, obviously.I'm different, my legs don't work," says Adam Bleakney.
   
   But it wasn't always that way.Adam Bleakney was a wrestler at Mason City High School and hoped to continue that in college ...
   ...
   "The first day out, the first morning, we asked the guys at the shop, 'what's the most dangerous hill, or most exciting hill we can do to go down?' Neither of us mountain bike, I had been on my bike like twice, I didn't really mountain bike, so 18-year-olds with not much reason," says Adam.
   
   What started as two teenagers living on a whim ended with Bleakney's life changing forever.
   
   "They'd had wind storms the week before so some of the trees had been blown across the path we were on outside.I hit that tree, flipped over and landed on my back," Adam says.
   ...
   We're not going to say for sure that you're not going to, but it's unlikely'," says Adam.
   
   Adam hasn't physically taken a step on his own since that day, but he's taken a much bigger step ...
   
   "It was never something where I felt like all my opportunities were out the window because my legs didn't work, I was never at that place, I always knew that this was going to be my life and it was going to be great," says Adam.
   
   His new life still revolves around competitive sport ...
   ...
   "I made it to the final in the 800 and finished last which, that was fine because I was happy that I made it to the final so just competing at that large of an event and dealing with all the things you have to deal with was good to get that under your belt," says Adam.
   
   In 2004, Bleakney again made the Paralympics.Despite setting a new record in the semifinals, he finished second in the finals, taking home the silver medal.His mom says she's never been more proud of her son, considering what he's been through.
   
   "Adam's the same person he's always been, he's still Adam.
   ...
   "It's been a great ride for me since '95 and my plan is to continue on with having those great experiences," says Adam.
   
   Bleakney is the head coach of the wheelchair track and racing team at the University of Illinois.He says he couldn't be more honored to represent the U.S. in Beijing, and more importantly, help educate the people of China about overcoming disabilities.

2. 2. Text

   www.jessejacksonjr.org/query/c - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/12/2000   Last Visited: 9/21/2000

   Adam Bleakney, 25, was on his way back to Downstate Bloomington after competing in a 10K wheelchair race in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. His flight from Wilkes-Barre to O'Hare was delayed, which made him miss his connection to Bloomington.
   
   Pushing in front of him the wheelchair he uses in competition, Bleakney wended his way through the crowd as he tried to find a way home. All flights to Bloomington were canceled. His only hope was a shuttle bus, which as of early evening was filling up, leaving little room for a wheelchair-bound man and an extra wheelchair.
   
   I can not get any information, said Bleakney, an assistant coach of the track team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Not from anybody who seems to know anything. there be no way i be spending the night here..
   
   Elsewhere,, Commonwealth Edison scrambled to restore power, especially in the southwest suburbs where 31, 000 customers lost electricity.

3. 3. Storms ZAP O'Hare

   www.thetracon.com/news/trib091 - [Cached]

   Published on: 9/12/2000   Last Visited: 10/15/2007

   Adam Bleakney, 25, was on his way back to Downstate Bloomington after competing in a 10K wheelchair race in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. His flight from Wilkes-Barre to O'Hare was delayed, which made him miss his connection to Bloomington.
   
   Pushing in front of him the wheelchair he uses in competition, Bleakney wended his way through the crowd as he tried to find a way home. All flights to Bloomington were canceled. His only hope was a shuttle bus, which as of early evening was filling up, leaving little room for a wheelchair-bound man and an extra wheelchair.
   
   "I can't get any information," said Bleakney, an assistant coach of the track team at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.