Being born with a defect did not hamper her making it big in life. At 24, American Tatyana McFadden has drawn worldwide attention by winning a Marathon “Grand Slam.” By achieving the rare feat for the first time, McFadden has also shown to the world that nothing is impossible as long as a person has grit and determination to realize a goal. A resident of Maryland, McFadden clinched the New York City Marathon women’s wheelchair race on Sunday to create history.

A delighted McFadden had her share of worries before eventually lifting the title. “I was nervous and worried because I didn’t know who was going to be coming, who was going to be creeping up. But I just had to believe in myself and my training,” a relieved-looking McFadden, who has now made a clean sweep of the four prime marathons, namely Boston, London, Chicago and New York, said.

In the wake of the bomb blasts witnessed during the Boston Marathon, security arrangements were beefed up at the venue, with bomb-sniffing dogs pressed into action across the course and entries remaining restricted to Central Park. However, the reasonably large number of fans who assembled at the 26.2-mile course got an opportunity to stand witness to history when McFadden, who was also the winner of the 2010 New York championship, sped past the winning post, sparing close to four minutes to her runner-up, Wakako Tsuchida of Japan.

Challenges

As a baby born with spina bifida, which refers to an incomplete growth of the spinal chord, McFadden grewup as an orphan in St. Petersburgh, Russia. However, she was lucky enough to have a turn of fortune when she was adopted by Deborah McFadden when she was six years old. Director of the International Children’s Alliance, Deborah did not delay in moving Tatyana to John Hopkins Hospital for a thorough check up. Much to her disappointment, she was told by the doctors that the child was unlikely to live long. Again, that did not persuade Deborah away from providing the kind of encouragement and enthusiasm needed by her daughter. Tatyana was offered ample opportunities to take part in a host of sports activities, including swimming and basketball. But then, it was racing that eventually evoked keen interest in Tatyana.

A University of Chicago student, McFadden made use of the Adopted Varsity Athletics Program and soon began to excel in wheelchair sports. Although her main focus was sprint, McFadden began to develop a strong taste for marathon races since 2009. After winning three golds in the 2012 Paralympics held in London, the highly talented and equally determined McFadden won as many as six titles at the recent Paralympic World Championships, earning gold medals in various distance categories.

Rigorous Training

If something had been eluding McFadden during the past couple of years, it was the New York City Marathon which she had raced unsuccessfully in 2009 and 2011. Not prepared to give up hopes, a self-believing McFadden underwent rigorous training that enabled her to lift her level of confidence and strength during this year’s event. By winning the coveted title in great style, McFadden has now realized her dreams of emerging as the maiden Marathon “Grand Slam” champion, a title that will push her to go further and further.