Mackenzie Soldan

Mackenzie Soldan (born May 14, 1992) is an American wheelchair basketball and wheelchair tennis player.[1][2] She represented the United States at the 2011 Parapan American Games where she won two gold medals,[3][4] 2012 London Paralympics in wheelchair tennis[5] and 2016 Rio Paralympics in wheelchair basketball.[6][7] She has played for the U.S. women's wheelchair basketball team since 2013.[8]

Mackenzie Soldan
Personal information
Nationality United States
Born (1992-05-14) May 14, 1992
Saginaw, Michigan
Height5 ft 1 in (1.55 m)
Medal record
Women's wheelchair tennis
Representing  United States
Parapan American Games
2011 Guadalajara Women's singles
2011 Guadalajara Women's doubles

Early life

Soldan was born in Saginaw, Michigan.[8] She lost the use of her legs because of a spinal cord tumor at age 2.[2][9] At age 18 she graduated from Christian Academy of Louisville. When she was in high school, she was a top-ranked player in the Junior wheelchair tennis team. She was also the Women's division' number one player as well.[10] In 2010, due to her passion for basketball she was signed to the University of Alabama's wheelchair basketball team, where she earned another national number one rank.

Career

In late October 2011, she got a phone call saying that she might be qualified for the Parapan American Games.[10] Soldan decided to go, and brought home 2 gold medals for singles and doubles.[2] Besides winning those medals she also carried an American flag which was given by her coach.[10]

Personal life

Soldan currently resides in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Besides sports, she plays the guitar and piano as a hobby. In 2007, she participated at the U.S. Under 19 Wheelchair Basketball Team and in 2011 won a gold medal in the U.S. Under 25 Team. The same year, Mackenzie was a member of Collegiate National Wheelchair Basketball Championship and represented University of Alabama there.[11] In 2016, she graduated with a master's degree in marketing.[8]

References
  1. "Mackenzie Soldan: "Everyone was Cheering!"". PBS. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  2. "Meet the Athletes: Mackenzie Soldan". PBS. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  3. Lemieux, Dave (July 11, 2016). "MI's Hunter & Soldan to RIO for Wheelchair BKB". MI Sport Online. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  4. "UA student to play tennis in 2012 Para-Olympics". Alabama Media Group. December 6, 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  5. Clarke, Joe (June 8, 2016). "From The Hardcourt To The Hardwood: Mackenzie Soldan Vies For A Second Paralympic Games". United States Olympic Committee. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  6. Journey, Rick (September 8, 2016). "Several Paralympians competing in Rio were trained in Alabama". WBRC. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  7. "US women's wheelchair basketball team named for Rio". International Paralympic Committee (IPC). June 10, 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  8. "NWBA Athlete of the Week - Mackenzie Soldan". National Wheelchair Basketball Association. February 3, 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  9. McCarvel, Nicholas (September 11, 2010). "American Teenager Gets a Taste of the Wheelchair Competition". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  10. "Mackenzie Soldan to compete in Paralympics". The South East Outlook. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  11. "Mackenzie Soldan". Team USA. United States Paralympic Committee. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
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