News Release                                                           Contact Phil Kreuter 516-681-3484

World Class Athlete Gives Keynote Address at Games for the Physically Challenged

May 26, 2007 Hicksville, NY - On Thursday May 31 at 6:30pm Amy Palmerio-Winters, world record holder in the marathon and the Olympic distance triathlon for female amputees, will be giving the key note address at the Empire State Games for the Physically Challenged at Mitchell Athletic Complex in Uniondale Long Island .  Ms. Palmerio-Winters will speak to the athletes, coaches, and volunteers of the games about her inspiring story and what motivates her to run, swim and bike and compete in sports with athletes with physical disabilities and against able-bodied athletes. The Empire State Games is one of the largest sporting events in the United States for children with physical disabilities. The athletes will be competing in a variety of sports including track and field, swimming, table tennis, wheelchair basketball, archery and slalom.

Ms. Palmerio-Winters extraordinary rise to world record status in less then a year has allowed her to compete at such a high level, that she competes in many races against able-bodied elite athletes, many times placing in and winning her age group division. On July 22 of this year Ms. Palmerio Winters will be the first athlete with a disability to compete in the elite amateur division of the prestigious Nautica New York City Triathlon.
 
Ms. Palmiero-Winters is the current world record holder in both Olympic distance triathlon (2:25) and marathon (3:04) for female below knee amputees.  For the past two years, she has won the International Triathlon Union World Championships in Switzerland, and was named United States Triathlon Physically Challenged Female Athlete of the Year for 2006.  She competes proudly as a member of Team A Step Ahead, a team of more than 75 athletes with disabilities. Amy will be speaking at the Runners World Boston Marathon Seminar on Sunday April 15 She was featured in the May issue of Runners World. Amy can be found online at www.seeamyrun.com

Team A Step Ahead is a team of amputee athletes from around the world who compete in events including the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon, multiple marathons, road races around the world and the Paralympic Games. Team A Step Ahead's members have been very competitive against able-bodied athletes, placing and wining age group awards. These elite athletes hold or have held world records in the 100m, 200m, 400m, track and field events, marathons and triathlons. Athletes receive training from coaches, prosthetists and physical therapists that are experts in working with amputee athletes, including world record holding Paralympians. The company’s motto is “Live Life Without Limitations.” For additional information on Team A Step Ahead visit www.astepaheadonline.com/tasah.html