Olympic fever is far from over—in a few weeks, the world’s attention will turn to the Paralympic Games, which run Aug. 28 to Sept. 8 in Paris. And, unsurprisingly, there are several Minnesotans going for gold.
Keep an eye out for these local athletes representing Team USA:
Mallory Weggemann, Para Swimming
Courtesy of Team USA
Weggemann is heading to her fourth Paralympic Games this year. Based in Eagan, Minnesota, the para-swimmer competed in London (2012), Rio (2016), and Tokyo (2020), and has won a total of five medals—three of which are gold.
Her qualification for the Paris games is just one of many accomplishments Weggemann has achieved recently. Upon being selected by NBC as a host for the Olympics, Weggemann became the first disabled Olympic host in United States history.
Outside of her athletics career, Weggemann’s self-directed documentary “Watershed” was released for streaming on Peacock earlier this year—the film, which Weggemann made with her husband, Jay Snyder, chronicles her training for the Tokyo Paralympics alongside the couple’s journey with in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Chuck Aoki, Wheelchair Rugby
Courtesy of AP
Chuck Aoki will also return for his fourth Paralympic Games this year. After playing wheelchair basketball for 11 years, the Minneapolis-based athlete became interested in wheelchair rugby after watching “Murderball,” which offers a behind-the-scenes look at American quad rugby. Over 15 years later, Aoki has since won three Paralympic medals in the sport.
Josie Aslakson, Wheelchair Basketball
Photo by Joe Kusumoto/Courtesy of Team USA
Hailing from Jordan, Aslakson discovered wheelchair basketball at the age of 13. She went on to play at Jordan High School and the University of Texas at Arlington, and she is currently the head coach of the women’s wheelchair basketball team at the University of Arizona.
Abby Bauleke, Wheelchair Basketball
Photo by Mark Reis/Courtesy of Team USA
23-year-old Abby Bauleke from Savage, Minnesota, won bronze in the 2020 Paralympic Games and is returning this year for another shot at a medal. Bauleke started playing wheelchair basketball in 2012 and was a member of the Minnesota Jr. Rolling Timberwolves until 2020.
Skylar Dahl, Para Rowing
Minneapolis-based para-rower Skylar Dahl is headed to her first Paralympic Games this year. She rowed at Twin Cities Youth Center for three years and currently competes for the University of Virginia.
Rose Hollerman, Wheelchair Basketball
Photo by Joe Kusumoto/Courtesy of Team USA
After competing in the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Paralympic Games, Rose Hollerman is going for another gold. Based in Elysian, Minnesota, Hollerman’s wheelchair basketball career dates back to 2004, when she started for a Minnesota club team. By 2011, at age 15, she was one of the youngest players on the U.S. women’s wheelchair basketball team.
Aaron Pike, Para Track & Field
Photo by Mark Reis/Courtesy of Team USA
Competing on the world stage is nothing new to Aaron Pike, who has competed in six total Paralympic Games across two sports: Para Nordic Skiing and Para Track & Field. Originally from Park Rapids, Minnesota, Pike’s wheelchair track and field career began at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he raced with the Fighting Illini alongside legendary Paralympian Tatyana McFadden. Pike qualified for this year’s games at the 2023 New York City Marathon.
Summer Schmit, Para Swimming
Courtesy of Summer Schmit/Gopher Athletics
Hailing from Stillwater, Summer Schmit began swimming competitively with St. Croix Swim Club at 11 years old. After her first Paralympic Games in 2020, she went on to swim for the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. Now, she’s coming back for round two. Plus, she’s heading to grad school at the University of Oxford this fall, where she will pursue a Master’s of Science in Applied Linguistics for Language Teaching.
Ian Seidenfeld, Para Table Tennis
Courtesy of USA Table Tennis
23-year-old Ian Seidenfeld took home a gold medal at his first Paralympic Games in Tokyo, and this year, he’s back for another. The Lakeville-based Paralympian graduated from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2023.
Natalie Sims, Para Swimming
Photo by Mark Reis/USOPC
Originally from Edina, two-time Paralympian Natalie Sims joined her YWCA’s swim club, the Minneapolis Otters, at age 13. In less than four years, she grew from a beginner to one of the organization’s fastest youth swimmers. After competing in 2016 and 2020, Sims is heading to Paris for her third Paralympic Games this year.
