McFADDEN Tatyana

Classification
T54 (IPC, 26 Feb 2021)

Type of Impairment
Spinal Cord Injuries (Athlete, 17 Jul 2017)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (Athlete, 17 Jul 2017)

Impairment Details
She was born with spina bifida and is paralysed from the waist down. "Usually, babies with spina bifida get surgery immediately after birth to ensure the spinal cord and nerves are enclosed and protected, but for me, that wasn't the case. I had surgery at 21 days old. It was a miracle that I survived." (womenshealthmag.com, 11 Jun 2019; Athlete, 17 Jul 2017; bbc.co.uk, 12 Jul 2013)

General
DOCUMENTARY
She was one of the athletes featured in the 2020 documentary Rising Phoenix, which detailed the history of the Paralympic Movement as well as following the personal journeys of nine Para athletes, including McFadden. She also served as co-producer of the documentary. "We're trying to have a new perception of inspiration. We want to be called inspirational for the work we put in, the medals we get, or how strong we are, not just because we get out of bed every day. We have to break that stereotype." (womensrunning.com, 08 Jan 2021, 17 Jan 2021)

BLOOD CLOT CONCERNS
In November 2016 she noticed swelling around her legs. Although she was initially unconcerned, the problem worsened while she was at a training camp in California, United States of America, and she was unable to get into her racing wheelchair. She was diagnosed with blood clots, which can potentially cause pulmonary embolism and become fatal. She returned home to Maryland, where she had three operations, but she did not finally solve the problem until August 2017 after visiting a doctor that had been recommended by one of her mother's friends. "They went in and looked at the clots in more detail and realised that my blood was slowing down. Being born with spina bifida I have only one kidney and they theorised there was no open and direct route for the vein blood to travel back to my heart." (bostonmagazine.com, 12 Apr 2018)

MOVE TO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
She was born paralysed from the waist down due to spina bifida, and was abandoned at an orphanage in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. She did not have a wheelchair, so she learned to walk using her hands. At age six she was adopted by Deborah McFadden, who had visited the orphanage as part of her work as a commissioner for the US Department of Health and Human Sciences. "Lots of people come in and out of the orphanage just wanting to adopt other kids but never a child with a disability. I looked at her [Deborah] and it was just that connection. I told everyone at the orphanage that she was going to be my mum." (The More You Know YouTube channel, 22 Oct 2019; teamusa.org, 01 Jul 2016; Baltimore Sun, 08 Oct 2008)

LEGAL BATTLE
In 2006 her adoptive mother Deborah McFadden filed a lawsuit against the Howard County Board of Education in the United States of America. The board had ruled that while it was fine for Tatyana to practise and travel with her able-bodied teammates, she was limited to racing in events designated for wheelchair athletes. School officials said that allowing wheelchair racers and runners to compete at the same time could cause safety problems and change the nature of the sport. The McFaddens had sought permission for their daughter to compete only at the same time as the other runners, not directly against them. She was eventually cleared to compete in Howard County track meets. Known as 'Tatyana's Law', it was initially used in a few US states but became a national law in 2013. "We decided to file a lawsuit for no money and for no damages, but for the right for equal opportunity for people with disabilities to join high school sports. [I thought] if I didn't do it, probably it won't happen. The next person is going to be suffering. I'm not going to be in Paralympics forever but by the time I leave I want to make sure I left that legacy [in which] the doors have opened for many people." (japantimes.co.jp, 27 Nov 2019; bbc.co.uk, 12 Jul 2013; The Washington Post, 19 Apr 2006)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
She has set up the Tatyana McFadden Foundation, which is part of the New York Road Runners Team for Kids in the United States of America. The organisation aims to support young athletes with an impairment. In addition she has served on the board of directors for the Illinois Spina Bifida Association, and she is also the author of a children's book called 'Ya Sama! Moments from My Life' in which she writes about her experiences when she was

In 2013 she became the first person to win the Boston Marathon, London Marathon, Chicago Marathon and New York Marathon in the same year. She repeated the feat in 2014, 2015 and 2016. (teamusa.org, 21 Feb 2019; insidethegames.biz, 03 Nov 2013)