Paralympian champion’s message to WIN for KC honorees: ‘Dream bigger than you should’
Depression deepened for Alana Nichols two years after a snowboarding accident paralyzed her at age 17.
“In an instant my life had changed,” Nichols said. “I tried for two years to walk again. It didn’t happen. I was at about my lowest point. I really didn’t want to live any more. I didn’t care to be here.”
But Nichols, from Farmington, New Mexico, happened upon a wheelchair pickup basketball game in a gym at the University of New Mexico. By rediscovering competitiveness, her life pivoted again.
She started playing hoops, which led to other sports, and Nichols turned herself into a Paralympic star. She’s the first American woman to win gold medals at the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games, in basketball and alpine ski racing. In 2016, she helped debut sprint kayaking in the Paralympics.
“Dream bigger than you should,” Nichols said. “I promise you it won’t happen if you don’t think of it first.”
Nichols shared her experiences with about 1,200 people attending the 30th WIN for KC Women’s Sports Awards luncheon at Municipal Auditorium. Six awards were presented.
Rising Star Award: Six months after Brinley Hutson underwent a leg amputation at age 12 she was on a softball field and was soon catching with a prosthetic leg. The 14-year-old freshman at Olathe East hit her first grand slam in the fall.
Leadership Award: Under Kameryn Furman’s leadership, KC MOMENTUM, a synchronized skating club, has grown from dozens of members to 98 over a five-year span. The adult and masters teams qualified for the U.S. Synchronized Skating Championships.
Game Changer Award: Twenty years ago, Kate Hwang suffered a traumatic brain injury working for the Kansas City Police Department. She medically retired from the force and is now and adaptive sports manager and CrossFit coach who competes in games for athletes with physical disabilities.
Lifetime Sportswoman Award: Sandy Brown is a 67-year-old triathlete who has competed in three Ironman competitions and 26 half Ironman races. In 2022, she competed in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii.
Courage Award: Helen Ortiz Turley left behind her native Guatemala at 17 and worked in a variety of jobs in America. In her 30s, she discovered bodybuilding. She overcame stomach cancer and continues to compete, winning multiple gold medals in the International Fitness and Body Building Federation.
Be Bold Award: In 2001, a group of women created the Honorary Coaches program for the Big 12 Women’s Basketball Tournament to support the event. The group also has raised funds for WIN for KC.
This story was originally published January 30, 2024 at 4:51 PM.