Tatyana McFadden facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Tatyana McFadden

Tatyana McFadden in London 2012
Personal information
Nickname(s)	Tatty
Nationality	United States
Born	(1989-04-21) April 21, 1989 (age 36) Leningrad, RSFSR, Soviet Union
Sport
Sport	Wheelchair Track and Field
College team	University of Illinois Wheelchair Basketball and Wheelchair Track and Field teams
Medal record Women's Track and field (T54) Representing  United States Paralympic Games Gold 2016 Rio 400m – T54 Gold 2016 Rio 800m – T54 Gold 2016 Rio 1500m – T54 Gold 2016 Rio 5000m – T54 Gold 2012 London 400m – T54 Gold 2012 London 800m – T54 Gold 2012 London 1500m – T54 Gold 2020 Tokyo mixed 4 × 100 m relay Silver 2004 Athens 100m – T54 Silver 2008 Beijing 200m – T54 Silver 2008 Beijing 400m – T54 Silver 2008 Beijing 800m – T54 Silver 2016 Rio 100m – T54 Silver 2016 Rio Marathon – T54 Silver 2020 Tokyo 800m – T54 Silver 2024 Paris 100m – T54 Bronze 2004 Athens 200m – T54 Bronze 2008 Beijing 4 × 100 m – T53–54 Bronze 2012 London 100m – T54 Bronze 2020 Tokyo 5000 m T54 Bronze 2024 Paris mixed 4×100 m relay World Championships Gold 2006 Assen 100m – T54 Gold 2011 Christchurch 200m – T54 Gold 2011 Christchurch 400m – T54 Gold 2011 Christchurch 800m – T54 Gold 2011 Christchurch 1500m – T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 100m – T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 200m – T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 400m – T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 800m – T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 1500m – T54 Gold 2013 Lyon 5000m – T54 Gold 2017 London 200m – T54 Gold 2017 London 1500m – T54 Silver 2006 Assen 200m – T54 Silver 2006 Assen 400m – T54 Silver 2011 Christchurch 4 × 400 m – T53–54 Silver 2023 Paris 400m – T54 Bronze 2011 Christchurch 100m – T54 Bronze 2023 Paris 100m – T54 Bronze 2023 Paris 800m – T54 New York City Marathon Gold 2010 New York City Marathon Bronze 2011 New York City Marathon Gold 2013 New York City Marathon Gold 2014 New York City Marathon Gold 2015 New York City Marathon Gold 2016 New York City Marathon Silver 2017 New York City Marathon Silver 2018 New York City Marathon Silver 2019 New York City Marathon Silver 2021 New York City Marathon Women's Paralympic cross-country skiing (Sitting) Representing  United States Paralympic Games Silver 2014 Sochi 1km Sprint

Tatyana McFadden (born April 21, 1989) is an amazing American Paralympic athlete. She competes in track and field events using a racing wheelchair, in the T54 category. Tatyana has won many medals, including twenty-two at the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. In 2015, she was even named the Laureus World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability.

About Tatyana McFadden

Tatyana was born in Leningrad, which was part of the Soviet Union at the time, on April 21, 1989. She was born with a condition called spina bifida, which meant she couldn't move her legs. Because the orphanage she lived in didn't have wheelchairs, she learned to walk on her hands for the first six years of her life. Doctors thought she might not live long.

Her Adoption and Early Life

While at the orphanage, Tatyana met Deborah McFadden. Deborah was visiting Russia to help people with disabilities. Deborah and her partner, Bridget O'Shaughnessy, adopted Tatyana and brought her to live in Baltimore, USA.

Growing up, Tatyana tried many sports to make her muscles stronger. She started with swimming, then tried gymnastics, wheelchair basketball, sled hockey, and track and field. She later went to the University of Illinois. There, she studied Human Development and Family Studies and was part of the university's wheelchair basketball and track teams.

Tatyana's Sports Career

Tatyana started racing when she was eight years old. She competed in her first Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece, when she was just 15. She won a silver medal in the 100 meters and a bronze medal in the 200 meters.

Paralympic and World Championship Success

At the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, China, she won three silver medals and one bronze. Tatyana became known for her speed in shorter races.

In 2009, she decided to try the Chicago Marathon just for fun. To her surprise, she won! This was the start of many marathon victories for her. She won the New York City Marathon in 2010, and both the Chicago and London Marathons in 2011.

Her coach at the University of Illinois was Adam Bleakney, who was also a wheelchair racer. Tatyana even competed in the same Paralympic race as her sister, Hannah, at the London 2012 Games.

In 2013, Tatyana made history at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon. She won six gold medals, winning every race from 100 meters to 5,000 meters. That same year, she also won the Boston, Chicago, London, and New York City Marathons. This made her the first person ever to win all four major marathons in the same year! She also set a new record for the Chicago Marathon.

Winter Paralympics and More Wins

In 2014, Tatyana went back to Russia, the country where she was born, to compete in the Winter Paralympic Games in Sochi. She won a silver medal in cross-country skiing. Winning this medal in front of her biological family was very special to her. After Sochi, she returned to wheelchair racing and won the London Marathon again, setting a new course record.

In 2015, Tatyana won the New York City Marathon and broke its course record by more than seven minutes. She continued to win major marathons, including the Boston and London Marathons in 2016. At the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio, she won four gold medals and two silver medals. She also won a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in a mixed relay race. Most recently, she won a silver and a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

Fighting for Fairness

When Tatyana was in high school, she faced a challenge. Her school wouldn't let her race at the same time as runners who didn't use wheelchairs. School officials said her racing chair was a safety risk and gave her an unfair advantage. This meant she had to race by herself on an empty track, which made her feel embarrassed.

Tatyana's Law

In 2005, Tatyana and her mother, Deborah, took legal action against the school system. They won the right for Tatyana to race at the same time as other runners starting in 2006. Her fight helped lead to a new law in Maryland in 2008. This law, called "Tatyana's Law," made Maryland the first state to require schools to offer equal sports chances for students with disabilities.

Tatyana also worked to stop a Russian law that would prevent American parents from adopting Russian children. She is also featured in the 2020 documentary film Rising Phoenix, which tells the stories of Paralympic athletes.

Key Achievements

The women's wheelchair race at the 2011 London marathon (left to right: Sandra Graf, Shelly Woods, Tatyana McFadden, Amanda McGrory).

New York City Marathon 2011

Tatyana McFadden near halfway point of Boston Marathon 2018 in which she got first place.

• 2003: Joined the U.S. Paralympics Track & Field National Team.
• 2004: Won silver (100m) and bronze (200m) at the 2004 Summer Paralympics.
• 2006: Won gold (100m) and two silver medals (200m, 400m) at the IPC World Championships.
• 2008: Won three silver medals (200m, 400m, 800m) and one bronze medal (4 × 100m relay) at the 2008 Summer Paralympics.
• 2010: Won the New York City Marathon.
• 2011: Won four gold medals (200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m) at the IPC Athletics World Championships.
• 2012: Won three gold medals (400m, 800m, 1500m) and one bronze medal (100m) at the 2012 Summer Paralympics.
• 2013: Won all four major marathons (Boston, Chicago, London, New York City) in one year.
• 2013: Won six gold medals (100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m) at the IPC Athletics World Championships.
• 2014: Won a silver medal in cross-country skiing at the 2014 Winter Paralympics in Sochi.
• 2014: Won the Boston, London, and New York City Marathons.
• 2015: Won the London and New York City Marathons.
• 2016: Won the Boston and London Marathons.
• 2016: Won four gold medals (400m, 800m, 1500m, 5000m) and two silver medals (100m, Marathon) at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.
• 2017: Won two gold medals (200m, 1500m) at the World Para Athletics Championships.
• 2017: Won the Chicago Marathon.
• 2018: Won the Boston Marathon.
• 2020: Won a gold medal (mixed 4 × 100m relay) and two silver medals (800m, 5000m) at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.
• 2021: Won her 9th Chicago Marathon title.
• 2023: Won a silver medal (400m) and two bronze medals (100m, 800m) at the World Para Athletics Championships.
• 2024: Won a silver medal (100m) and a bronze medal (mixed 4 × 100m relay) at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

See also

In Spanish: Tatyana McFadden para niños