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Biography
Impairment information
Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries
Origin of Impairment
Acquired
Classification
S2, SB1, SM2
Further personal information
Family
Wife Mamie
Residence
College Park, GA, USA
Occupation
Athlete, Coach
Languages
English
Higher education
Recreation Management - Morris Brown College: Atlanta, GA, USA
Sport specific information
When and where did you begin this sport?
He took up swimming as therapy following his accident in 1986. He began competing in 1993.
Why this sport?
At college he played basketball ball and football, but had never swum in his life. "I don't think I'd ever been near water, but as part of the therapy I was put in a lifejacket and lowered into the pool."
Club / Team
Shepherd Sharks: Atlanta, GA, USA
General interest
Nicknames
C-Love (Instagram profile, 15 May 2016)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Don't let the disability control you. You control the disability." (Twitter profile, 30 Jun 2016)
Awards and honours
In 2019 he was inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame in the United States of America.. (fox5atlanta.com, 08 Feb 2019)
He was flag bearer for the United States of America at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto, ON, Canada. (teamusa.org, 05 Aug 2015)
In 2013 he was inducted into the Georgia Aquatics Hall of Fame in the United States of America. (shepherd.org, 26 Aug 2013)
In 2013 he was presented with the Dixie Wheelchair Athletics Lifetime Achievement Award in the United States of America. (vimeo.com, 11 May 2013)
He was flag bearer for the United States of America at the opening ceremony of the 2015 Parapan American Games in Toronto, ON, Canada. (teamusa.org, 05 Aug 2015)
In 2013 he was inducted into the Georgia Aquatics Hall of Fame in the United States of America. (shepherd.org, 26 Aug 2013)
In 2013 he was presented with the Dixie Wheelchair Athletics Lifetime Achievement Award in the United States of America. (vimeo.com, 11 May 2013)
Other sports
He has represented the United States of America in wheelchair fencing, winning medals at the world championships in 2013 and 2015. (SportsDeskOnline, 02 Jun 2017; teamusa.org, 31 Oct 2014)
Ambitions
To compete in wheelchair fencing and swimming at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (wdam.com, 10 Aug 2016)
Impairment
He was paralysed from the neck down following a car accident in 1986. He uses a wheelchair and has limited use of his arms. (atlantamagazine.com, 19 Oct 2015; teamusa.org, 31 Aug 2014; shepherd.org, 26 Aug 2013; medium.com, 28 Jun 2018)
Other information
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He was ordained as a Baptist deacon in 1989 in Atlanta, GA, United States of America. In 2018 he published his autobiography, called 'Just a Little Love and Joy'. His life story has also been featured in an Emmy Award nominated television film called 'Small Miracles'. "I have two things in my life, God and sport. Without them I would be nothing. Sport is the way I express myself in so many different ways. When I am in the water no one sees my disability. I am myself." (medium.com, 28 Jun 2018; US Paralympics, 04 Mar 2010; independent.co.uk, 11 May 2008)
He was ordained as a Baptist deacon in 1989 in Atlanta, GA, United States of America. In 2018 he published his autobiography, called 'Just a Little Love and Joy'. His life story has also been featured in an Emmy Award nominated television film called 'Small Miracles'. "I have two things in my life, God and sport. Without them I would be nothing. Sport is the way I express myself in so many different ways. When I am in the water no one sees my disability. I am myself." (medium.com, 28 Jun 2018; US Paralympics, 04 Mar 2010; independent.co.uk, 11 May 2008)
Results
| Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's Sabre Team | Classification 7-8 | 102 | ||
| Men's Sabre Individual B | Pool C | 7 | ||
| Men's Sabre Individual B | Pool C | 10 | ||
| Men's Sabre Individual B | Pool C | 13 | ||
| Men's Sabre Individual B | Pool C | 14 | ||
| Men's Sabre Individual B | 1/8th final | 405 | ||
| Men's Sabre Team | 1/8th final | 401 | ||
| Men's Sabre Team | Quarterfinal | 301 | ||
| Men's Sabre Team | Classification 5-8 | 201 | ||
| Men's Sabre Individual B | Pool C | 3 | ||
| Men's Epee Team | Classification 5-6 | 101 | ||
| Men's Epee Individual B | Pool A | 3 | ||
| Men's Epee Individual B | Pool A | 7 | ||
| Men's Epee Individual B | Pool A | 10 | ||
| Men's Epee Individual B | Pool A | 13 | ||
| Men's Epee Individual B | Pool A | 14 | ||
| Men's Epee Team | Quarterfinal | 303 | ||
| Men's Epee Team | Classification 5-8 | 202 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 2 | 1 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Heat 2 | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 2 | 1 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 2 | 4 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Men's 150 m Individual Medley SM3 | Heat 2 | 7 | ||
| Men's 200 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 1 | 6 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Freestyle 20pts | Heat 2 | 5 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Medley 20pts | Heat 1 | 5 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Heat 1 | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final Round | 6 | ||
| Men's 50 m Breaststroke SB2 | Heat 1 | 6 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 2 | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 6 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final Round | 6 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Heat 1 | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 1 | 2 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 6 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 2 | 3 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 6 | ||
| Men's 200 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 2 | 5 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 150 m Individual Medley SM2 | Heats (SM2/3) | 1 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Heats | 7 | ||
| Men's 150 m Individual Medley SM2 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's 200 m Freestyle S2 | Heats (S1/2) | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Heats | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final Round | 6 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Heats | 6 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Freestyle 20 pts | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Men's 200 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 3 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Heats (S1/2) | 3 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Men's 50 m Breaststroke SB1 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Heats (S1/2) | 6 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 7 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Freestyle Open | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Heats (S1/2) | 5 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Medley Open | Final Round | 5 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Heats | 1 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 1 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Heats | 1 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Men's 200 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 4 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Heats | 3 | ||
| Men's 50 m Breaststroke SB1 | Heats (SB1/2) | 8 | ||
| Men's 50 m Breaststroke SB1 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Men's 50 m Butterfly S2 | Heats (S2-4) | 9999 | ||
| Men's 150 m Individual Medley SM2 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Freestyle 20 pts | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final Round | 7 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 2 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Heat 1 | 1 | ||
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final Round | 5 | ||
| Men's 4x50 m Freestyle 20 pts | Heat 2 | 5 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 3 | ||
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 2 | 2 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 200 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 2012-09-01 | 8 | |
| Men's 100 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 1 | 2012-09-03 | 5 | |
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Heat 2 | 2012-09-05 | 5 | |
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Final Round | 2012-09-07 | 8 | |
| Men's 50 m Freestyle S2 | Heat 1 | 2012-09-07 | 4 |
| Event | Medal | Unit | Date | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Heat 1 | 2017-12-04 | 7 | |
| Men's 50 m Backstroke S2 | Final 1 | 2017-12-04 | 9999 | |
| Men's 200 m Freestyle S2 | Final 1 | 2017-12-06 | 7 | |
| Mixed 4x50 m Freestyle 20pts | Final 1 | 2017-12-07 | 5 | |
| Men's 100 m Backstroke S2 | Heat 1 | 2017-12-07 | 7 | |
| Men's 100 m Backstroke S2 | Final 1 | 2017-12-07 | 8 |