When basketball players everywhere feel a new sense of propulsion from their new Air Jordan 2009 sneakers, they'll know what U.S. amputee sprinter April Holmes has felt for years.
Paralympian & Team Jordan athlete April Holmes helped inspire new technology included in the Air Jordan 2009.
A former college track and field star, Holmes lost her left leg below the knee after a train accident in 2001. She has since become the world-record holder in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races while wearing a prosthetic leg. Holmes was the inspiration behind adding articulated propulsion technology (APT) into the new Jordans, which release nationwide in February. She is both the first and only female and first and only track and field athlete on Team Jordan.
But Holmes is more interested in discussing her other passion: inspiring physically and learning-disabled individualsyouth with disabilities to reach their goals.
"It's not about individual awards or medals," Holmes said. "[It's about] the fact that you can inspire people,"
Life has been a whirlwind for Holmes since winning gold in the 100-meter dash at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
Through her nonprofit organization-the April Holmes Foundation-and her various sponsorships and other commitments, Holmes has visited approximately 50 schools and spoken at countless community events since Beijing. At these engagements she promotes scholarships, education and job placement for those with a physical or learning disability.
"When you return to the U.S. with a gold medal, all of a sudden you have a whole lot of things to do," Holmes said.
When basketball players everywhere feel a new sense of propulsion from their new Air Jordan 2009 sneakers, they'll know what U.S. amputee sprinter April Holmes has felt for years.
Paralympian & Team Jordan athlete April Holmes helped inspire new technology included in the Air Jordan 2009.
A former college track and field star, Holmes lost her left leg below the knee after a train accident in 2001. She has since become the world-record holder in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races while wearing a prosthetic leg. Holmes was the inspiration behind adding articulated propulsion technology (APT) into the new Jordans, which release nationwide in February. She is both the first and only female and first and only track and field athlete on Team Jordan.
But Holmes is more interested in discussing her other passion: inspiring physically and learning-disabled individualsyouth with disabilities to reach their goals.
"It's not about individual awards or medals," Holmes said. "[It's about] the fact that you can inspire people,"
Life has been a whirlwind for Holmes since winning gold in the 100-meter dash at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games.
Through her nonprofit organization-the April Holmes Foundation-and her various sponsorships and other commitments, Holmes has visited approximately 50 schools and spoken at countless community events since Beijing. At these engagements she promotes scholarships, education and job placement for those with a physical or learning disability.
"When you return to the U.S. with a gold medal, all of a sudden you have a whole lot of things to do," Holmes said.
After a one-month break from track, Holmes is back at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista working out and working with her foundation. She has her sights set on London 2012, but for now she is focusing on the short-term, day-to-day things, including her philanthropic activity.
"I do everything," Holmes said. "I'm not one of the people who just kind of delegates. I do whatever I have to do to make the foundation run or be more effective."
As of late, she is working on a celebrity fundraising weekend in Philadelphia for the end of April.
"The Paralympic [Movement] has grown drastically and every single day it continues to grow," Holmes said. "I think it speaks volumes to the Jordan brand's dedication to athletes. As opposed to seeing me as a woman or a Paralympic athlete, they saw me as an athlete."
