Shea Cowart
Encyclopedia
Shea Cowart is an American
sprinter
. At age six she contracted meningococcemia
, which resulted in both of her legs being amputated below the knee. At the 2000 Summer Paralympics
, she won a gold medal and broke the world record in the women's T44 class 100 m race, and won another gold in the T44 200 m event.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sprinter
Sprint (race)
Sprints are short running events in athletics and track and field. Races over short distances are among the oldest running competitions. The first 13 editions of the Ancient Olympic Games featured only one event—the stadion race, which was a race from one end of the stadium to the other...
. At age six she contracted meningococcemia
Meningococcemia
Meningococcal disease describes infections caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis . It carries a high mortality rate if untreated. While best known as a cause of meningitis, widespread blood infection is more damaging and dangerous...
, which resulted in both of her legs being amputated below the knee. At the 2000 Summer Paralympics
2000 Summer Paralympics
The 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 October to 29 October. The eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the Sydney programme. They commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000...
, she won a gold medal and broke the world record in the women's T44 class 100 m race, and won another gold in the T44 200 m event.