Curt Brinkman

Raymond Curtis Brinkman

Personal information
Full name	Raymond Curtis Brinkman
Nickname(s)	Curt
Nationality	United States of America
Born	November 21, 1953 Shelley, Idaho
Died	September 8, 2010 (aged 56) Pleasant Grove, Utah
Resting place	Shelley, Idaho Cemetery
Alma mater	Brigham Young University
Height	6 ft 7 in (201 cm)
Medal record Men's wheelchair marathons 1976 Paralympics Men's Discus D1[1] 1976 Paralympics Men's 100 m D1[2] Winner 1980 Boston Marathon Men's wheelchair[3] 1980 Paralympics Men's 400 m D1 wheelchairs[4] 1980 Paralympics Men's 4x100 m Relay D1[5] 1980 Paralympics Men's 100 m D1 wheelchairs[6]
Updated on 2 May 2015.

Raymond Curtis "Curt" Brinkman (November 21, 1953-September 8, 2010) was the winner of the 1980 Boston Marathon in the men's wheelchair division. He was the first participant in the wheelchair division to come in faster than the fastest runner,^[7][8] coming in seventeen minutes faster than the traditional winner,^[9] setting a (then) world record of 1:55:00.^[3] He also won several Paralympic medals.

Curt Brinkman was born in the farming community of Shelley, Idaho on November 21, 1953. He was already 6 foot 7 inches tall at age 16 and had aspirations of playing professional basketball. Brinkman was working on his father's potato farm in the early 1970s when he climbed a power pole to locate other workers. A high-voltage arc knocked him to the ground. Doctors had to amputate both of Brinkman’s legs.

Marriage and family

Curtis Brinkman is the father of three children.

Later life

Curt Brinkman used the accident as a motivation in his life. Brinkman not only achieved fame as a world class wheelchair athlete. He was also an educator, motivational speaker, and author of the best-selling books The Will to Win and Still Winning/Lessons for Life.

Curtis Brinkman won his last race, the St. George Marathon, in 2007 at age 54. He died at age 56 at his home in Pleasant Grove, Utah following challenges brought on by a number of health complications, including diabetes and heart problems. Some of Brinkman’s health problems dated back to the accident where he lost his legs. Others came from the wear-and-tear of racing.

References

1. "Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games: Athletics: Men's Discus D1". paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
2. "Toronto 1976 Paralympic Games: Athletics: Men's 100 m D1". paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
3. "Boston Marathon History: 1976-1980". baa.org. Boston Marathon Association. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
4. "Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games: Athletics: Men's 400 m D1 wheelchairs". paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
5. "Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games: Athletics: Men's 4x100 m Relay D1". paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
6. "Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games: Athletics: Men's 100 m D1 wheelchairs". paralympic.org. International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
7. "Boston Marathon History: Past Men's Wheelchair Champions". baa.org. Boston Marathon Association. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
8. "Boston Marathon History: Past Men's Open Champions". baa.org. Boston Marathon Association. Retrieved 1 May 2015.
9. "In Memoriam" (PDF), The Olympian, Fall 2010: 19

External links