Trischa Zorn

Trischa Zorn, born June 1, 1964 in Orange, California [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/paralympics/news/2000/09/15/zorn_bios/ Trischa Zorn's biography] on CNN] , is a United States swimmer. Blind from birth, she competes in Paralympic swimming (S12, SB12 and SM12 disability categories). [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/paralympics/news/2000/09/15/zorn_bios/ Trischa Zorn's biography] on CNN] She is, at present, the most successful athlete in the history of the Paralympic Games, having won 55 medals, of which 41 are gold. [ [http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/News/Current_Affairs/2005_01_05_a.html "Times Square Honors Athletes"] , International Paralympic Committee, January 5, 2005]

Zorn studied at the University of Nebraska, and, as of 2001, "teaches third and fourth graders with special needs in Indianapolis". [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/paralympics/news/2000/09/15/zorn_bios/ Trischa Zorn's biography] on CNN]

She competed in the 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000 and 2004 Paralympic Games. [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/paralympics/news/2000/09/15/zorn_bios/ Trischa Zorn's biography] on CNN] [ [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200409/26/eng20040926_158355.html "China shine in Paralympic swimming"] , "People's Daily", September 26, 2004] In the 1996 Games in Atlanta, she won more medals than any other athlete: two gold, three silver and three bronze. She had also topped the individual medal table at the 1992 Games in Barcelona [ [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/paralympics/news/2000/09/15/zorn_bios/ Trischa Zorn's biography] on CNN] , with ten gold medals and two silver. [ [http://en.paralympic.beijing2008.cn/spirit/pastgames/n214340060.shtml "Paralympic Summer Games -- Barcelona 1992"] , official website of the 2008 Beijing Paralympics] She had won seven gold medals during her first Games in 1980. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9A02E3DE1439F930A15755C0A962948260 "Trischa Zorn Wins Fifth Gold"] , "The New York Times", June 23, 1984]

Following the Athens Games in 2004, she had won 55 medals at the Paralympic Games, more than any other athlete, of any nationality. Of those, 41 were gold medals, 9 were silver and 5 were bronze. [ [http://www.aboutolympics.co.uk/great-paralympians-past-present.html "Great Paralympians Past and Present"] , About Olympics] [ [http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/News/Current_Affairs/2005_01_05_a.html "Times Square Honors Athletes"] , International Paralympic Committee, January 5, 2005] [ [http://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/lane9/news/8139.asp?q=American%20Trischa%20Zorn%20Most%20Decorated%20Paralympian%20of%20All-Time%20With%2055th%20Medal "American Trischa Zorn Most Decorated Paralympian of All-Time With 55th Medal"] , "Swimming World Magazine", September 27, 2004.] After the Sydney Games in 2000, she also held eight world records in her disability category (50 m backstroke, 100 m backstroke, 200 m backstroke, 200 m individual medley, 400 m individual medley, 200 m breaststroke, 4×50 m medley relay, 4×50 m free relay). [ [http://www.ibsa.es/eng/deportes/swimming/estrellas.htm "TRISCHA ZORN"] , International Blind Sport Federation]

On 1 January, 2005, Zorn was one of eight athletes honoured during New Year celebrations in Times Square in New York. The other seven were Ian Thorpe of Australia, Nadia Comaneci of Romania, George Weah of Liberia, Francoise Mbango Etone of Cameroon, Gao Min of China, Felix Sanchez of the Dominican Republic and Bart Conner of the United States. The eight athletes were "centre stage during the festivities in the countdown leading up to ringing in the New Year". [ [http://www.paralympic.org/release/Main_Sections_Menu/News/Current_Affairs/2005_01_05_a.html "Times Square Honors Athletes"] , International Paralympic Committee, January 5, 2005]

References

External links

* [http://www.ibsa.es/eng/deportes/swimming/estrellas.htm Medal record] (up to and including the 2000 Paralympics), International Blind Sport Federation
* [http://archives.cnn.com/2000/fyi/news/08/30/zorn.profile/ "Making a new splash"] , CNN, September 3, 2000