While former GVSU rower Sarah Zelenka will be competing in the London Olympic Games in late July, the Paralympics also held in London but in September, will feature another Laker in former track and field runner Chris Hammer.
A four-time All American during his run at Grand Valley State University, Hammer will run the 1,500-meter run at the Paralympics. His time of four minutes, 5.3 seconds was enough to win the event ant the 2012 U.S. Track and Field Paralympic Trials.
Born without a left hand, Hammar will run in the T46 classification of the 1,500-meter dash – with the finals being held on September 4. Hammer enters the Paralympics with the second-best time in the world, trailing Algeria’s Samir Nouioua’s time of 3:54.56 by four seconds.