Athletes from across nation compete this weekend at Courage Country Championships

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. - June 20, 2013 - PRLog -- For more than 30 years, Courage Country Championships has celebrated the achievements of athletes with physical disabilities through Paralympic-style competition. This weekend’s competition is the Upper Midwest qualifier for the 2013 National Junior Disability Championships, July 6-13 in Rochester, Minn.

Competition takes place Saturday, June 22 and Sunday, June, 23, 2013:

·         Track and Field, St. Louis Park High School

·         Archery, St. Louis Park High School

·         Swimming, St. Catherine University

Special interview opportunities:

Saturday, St. Louis Park High School, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Lex Gillette – Current Paralympic World Record Holder and three-time silver medalist in the Long Jump,
Gillette will welcome athletes and speak about his experiences in International competition.
Paul Nitz – four-time gold medalist in the 100 meters and bronze medalist in London last year.
Pol Van Winkel – Originally from Belgium and now living in Minnesota, Van Winkel was a Gold medalist in track and field in the very first Paralympics in 1984.

Sunday, St. Catherine University, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Erin Popovich – Winner of 14 gold and 5 silver medals, Popovich participated in the Athens, Sydney and Beijing Paralympics.
Rose Hollermann – Local multi-sport athlete, Hollermann participated in the London Paralympic women’s wheelchair basketball team last summer, and was the youngest team member.
Sarah Binsfield – University of Wisconsin – Whitewater student, and former Courage Center wheelchair basketball player, Sarah also competed in last summer’s London Paralympic games for the U.S. women’s wheelchair basketball team

Courage Country Championships is open to independent athletes of all ages with a variety of disabilities interested in competition. To qualify to compete at the National Junior Disability Championships you must meet specific criteria as set by Wheelchair Sports USA including: qualifying times/scores, membership with a disability organization, a Paralympic classification, etc.

This year’s competition is made possible through the support of our sponsors: ABRA Auto Body & Glass, Coloplast, the Twins Community Fund, DQ Cares, ULLR Ski Bike and Social Club; with in-kind support from General Mills, Land O’Lakes, Caribou Coffee, St. Louis Park High School and St. Catherine University.