Paralympic sprinter Jerome Singleton poses for a portrait during the USOC Portrait Shoot at Smashbox West Hollywood on November 16, 2011 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images for USOC)
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — American Jerome Singleton is eager to start what could be the biggest summer of his life.
The world champion sprinter from Columbia is seeking an individual gold medal at the Paralympic Games in London and hoping to raise awareness in his home country that disabilities don’t have to slow you down.
Singleton was born without a fibula in his right leg and was 18 months old when doctors amputated the limb below the knee. That didn’t keep him from excelling at football or running track in high school, or from training with the track team at Morehouse College in Atlanta.
Singleton won a gold medal as part of the U.S. 400-meter relay team at the Beijing Paralympics four years ago. His chance starts this weekend’s U.S. trials in Indianapolis.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
