Nick Roumonada
Below Knee Amputee Stats:
Date of Birth: 10/23/78
Residence: New York, N.Y.
Sports: Running, Wheelchair Basketball
At the age of 13, Nick Roumonada was stricken with bacterial meningitis (meningococcal) and was not expected to live through the night. While his life was saved by his parents' swift action to get him to the hospital, Nick's left leg had to be amputated below the knee as a result of the disease.
Originally from Seattle, Nick studied music performance at the University of Washington. He later went on to travel the world as a musical director and trumpet player for major cruise lines while playing professionally with a wide variety of bands in the greater Seattle area.
Due to an unrelated injury in 2008 which left him unable to continue performing as a trumpet player, Nick decided that all the hours he once spent practicing his art would now be devoted to athletic pursuits. After becoming frustrated with running on a walking leg, he reached out to A Step Ahead Prosthetics. With assistance from the Challenged Athletes Foundation, A Step Ahead was able to build him a running leg that will be able to take him anywhere he wants to go. One week after receiving his Flex Foot Run, Nick entered and finished a 1/2 Marathon Trail Race and has been training ever since with the help of coach David Balsley and the whole team at A Step Ahead.
Nick now resides in New York City, where he works full time, attends The New School University in pursuit of a masters degree, plays for the NY Rollin' Knicks Wheelchair Basketball Team, and spends much of his free time running in circles around Central Park to get ready for his next race.
There are people with ability all around us; they just need the right tools. The following quote best sums it up: "Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out."
Results:
NYC 1/2 Marathon - 1:41
NYRR Gridiron Classic - 27:14 (6:50/mile)
Manhattan 1/2 Marathon - 1:39
Fred Lebow Classic (5 miles) - 36:46
North Face Endurance Challenge 1/2 Marathon Trail Race - 2:26
Terry Fox Run (5k) - 23:00
Goals for 2010:
All Five Boroughs 1/2 Marathons
Chicago 1/2 Marathon
Seattle 1/2 Marathon
San Diego 1/2 Marathon
Bay to Breakers (in under an hour)
NYC Marathon
Triathlon
|
