Deaf people in the Olympics

At the time of writing this article, the earliest known deaf person to compete at the Olympic Games was Carlo Orlandi, an Italian boxer who competed in the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam.

In some cases, adaptations could be made to accommodate deaf athletes such as Marcus Titus.[1][2]

The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf organises the Deaflympics every four years for deaf athletes. Some of the people listed in this article are also involved in the activities of the Deaflympics.

Sports coaches who are learning to adapt their strategies to accommodate deaf athletes, particularly those taking part in team sports. The American men's volleyball coach John Speraw has the "David Smith Rule" for his middle blocker.[3]

Summer games

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Athletes

The table below shows Deaf athletes known to have competed in the Olympics. All either competed at the Deaflympics, or would have qualified to do so. To qualify for the Deaflympics, "athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55db in their 'better ear'. Hearing aids, cochlear implants and the like are not allowed to be used in competition, to place all athletes on the same level"[4] In the Olympics, there is no restriction on hearing loss or use of hearing aids.

Person (Nation) Deaflympic Games Olympic Games
Games Sport Games Sport References
 Carlo Orlandi (ITA) 1928 Amsterdam Boxing [5]
 Donald Gollan (GBR) 1928 Amsterdam Rowing [5]
 Ignazio Fabra (ITA) 1961 Helsinki
1965 Washington DC
1969 Belgrade
Wrestling 1952 Helsinki
1956 Melbourne
Wrestling [6]
 Ildikó Újlaky-Rejtő (HUN) 1960 Rome
1964 Tokyo
1968 Mexico City
1972 Munich
1976 Montreal
Fencing [7]
 Vyacheslav Skomorokhov (URS) 1969 Belgrade
1973 Malmö
1977 Bucharest
1981 Köln
Athletics 1968 Mexico City Athletics [8]
 Jeffrey Float (USA) 1977 Bucharest Swimming 1984 Los Angeles Swimming [9]
 Dean Barton-Smith (AUS) 1985 Los Angeles
1989 Christchurch
1993 Sofia
2005 Melbourne
Athletics 1992 Barcelona Athletics [10][11]
 Terence Parkin (RSA) 2005 Melbourne Swimming 2000 Sydney
2004 Athens
Swimming [12]
 Frank Bartolillo (AUS) 2004 Athens Fencing [12][13]
 Hugo Passos (POR) 1997 Copenhagen
2001 Rome
2005 Melbourne
2009 Taipei
Wrestling 2004 Athens Wrestling [12][14]
 Tony Ally (GBR) 2004 Athens Diving [12]
 Tamika Catchings (USA) 2004 Athens
2008 Beijing
2012 London
Women's Basketball [15]
 Chris Colwill (USA) 2008 Beijing
2012 London
Diving [16]
 David Smith (USA) 2012 London Volleyball [3]

Opening Ceremony

Person (Nation)
Games Role References
KAOS Choir (GBR) 2012 London Performed British National anthem [17]
Evelyn Glennie (GBR) 2012 London Lead percussionist [18]
Mike Hawthorne (GBR) 2012 London Dancer [19]

References

  1. Flaherty, Bryan (19 April 2012). "USA Swimming will allow hand signals to accommodate deaf athletes at Olympic Games". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  2. "Deaf olympic swimming hopeful Marcus Titus makes history". healthyhearing.com.
  3. 1 2 "United States volleyball David Smith competes with hearing loss". Fox News.
  4. Historical overview of the Paralympics, Special Olympics, and Deaflympics. Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved on 17 October 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Disabled Olympic Participants". Top End Sports. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  6. "Deaflympics". International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  7. "A Guide to Olympic Sports - Fencing". BBC. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  8. "Deaflympics". International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  9. "Keynote Speaker: Jeff Float". World Class Speakers & Entertainers. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  10. "Dean Barton-Smith wins rare Edwin Flack award". Deaf Sports Australia. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  11. "Athlete Information: Dean Barton-Smith". Deaflympics. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Game Plans for Athletes with Hearing Loss". Dee Naquin Shafer. 2004-10-05. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  13. "Frank Bartolillo-Deaf Australian Fencer To Participate In Olympics". Workersforjesus.com. 1981-12-22. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
  14. "Athlete Profile: Hugo Miguel Passos". Deaflympics. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  15. "Tamika Catchings: WNBA Superstar; Star to the Indianapolis Community". Mike White. 2007-07-07. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  16. "Exclusive: Hearing loss won’t hold back U.S. Olympic diver". Jason Owens. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
  17. "The Kaos Signing Choir performs the British national anthem during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 London Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium.". Richard Mackson - USA TODAY Sports. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
  18. "KAOS Signing Choir and Deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie are highlights from the Opening ceremony". Signing Savvy. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  19. "Olympics opening ceremony is dream come true for deaf Highbury dancer". Islington Gazette.
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