Atlanta Paralympic Silver medallist, Kathy Urschel, will be a fierce competitor for the Australians at the Paralympic Games Sydney 2000 in October, with the aid of the Australian designed Nucleus cochlear hearing device. Cochlear, the world leader in cochlear implants, is sponsoring Kathy in her preparation for the 2000 Games.
Kathy is a vivacious 35 year old woman who lost her sight at the age of 21 and became profoundly deaf seven years later. Kathy was then implanted with the Nucleus 22 cochlear implant.
Cochlear's Nucleus technology enables Kathy's tandem cycling pilot at the front of the bike to issue racing commands through a microphone wired to Kathy's external electronic speech processor. The processor sends the commands to Kathy's internal implant, which allows her to hear by electrically stimulating her hearing nerve.
'My Nucleus implant gives me the reliability and confidence to meet my athletic needs and the flexibility to meet my hearing needs. I'm very thankful for the Nucleus implant that helps me and thousands like me to hear,' Kathy said, 'Cochlear really is my partner in hearing for life.'
The lead up to the Games has not been a safe and easy ride for Kathy. Last year Kathy suffered a serious road accident while training, leaving her with head injuries and broken bones.
'I landed on my head which would normally damage most hearing devices, but fortunately the Nucleus has a titanium case and was well protected,' Kathy said.
During her hospitalization, Kathy's immobility resulted in blood clots forming in the arteries of her legs. This led to a stroke and doctors told her she would never walk again. No stranger to overcoming adversity, two weeks and four days after the accident, Kathy had her foot back on the pedal.
'I wouldn't believe the doctors when they said I wouldn't ride again,' Kathy said. 'Before the accident I was beating world cup champions. I have always remained focused, and with the help of my friends, family and physiotherapist I got back on my bike.'
It's been a hard road for Kathy, but her enthusiasm, strength and vigor have helped her get back into the race and clock up some impressive times during recent training sessions in Colorado.
'Paralympian tandem cyclists wish to be recognized as elite athletes, and our training program is comparable to that of our Olympic colleagues,' Kathy said.
Her fellow team members have supported her throughout her rehabilitation and provided much of the encouragement she needed to continue. Kathy's parents, Jane and Richard will also be coming to Sydney to cheer on their remarkable daughter and her tandem partner Karla Bland.
'My Nucleus implant from Cochlear, will help give me a shot at a gold medal in tandem cycling at the Sydney Paralympic Games,' said Kathy.
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Source:
Cochlear Corp
www.cochlear.com
Australian Technology Helps U.S. Paralympian Go For Gold
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