_:n13d441f813d24c6bb0a05c7764fedad7xb0
<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"<table class=\"clsTableCaption\" style=\"float: right;\">\n<tr><td><img src=\"/Content/OldArticles/images/NEWS_2004-06-02_04/rudy2003mantoani1.jpg\" alt=\"Photo by Tim Mantoani, courtesy of Challenged Athletes Foundation.\"></td></tr>\n<tr><td>Photo by Tim Mantoani, courtesy of Challenged Athletes Foundation.</td></tr>\n</table>\n<p>Rudy Garcia-Tolson, 15, has achieved a dream he\nhas held since he was nine years old. In April, he competed at the\nUS Paralympic Swim Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota-and secured a\nspot on the 2004 US Paralympic Team!</p>\n<p>Rudy's long hours of practice and focus on his goal have paid\noff. Since January, he has given up his loves of skateboarding,\npaintball, and triathlon to stay focused on his goal of making the\nUS Swim Team.</p>\n<p>Rudy, who is a spokesperson for the Challenged Athletes\nFoundation (CAF), Del Mar, California, began swimming at the age of\nfive. In his first two years as a member of an area swim team, he\nearned 43 ribbons and 14 medals. He also has competed in six San\nDiego Challenge triathlons with his friend and hero, actor Robin\nWilliams.</p>\n<p>The young bilateral amputee was born with Pterygium Syndrome,\nwhich caused several congenital abnormalities. By the age of five,\nhe had already undergone 15 surgeries and was using a wheelchair.\nDoctors then gave him a choice of remaining in a wheelchair or\nwalking with the help of prostheses. He chose to have greater\nmobility and a full, active life, and so underwent knee\ndisarticulation amputation of both legs.</p>\n<p> In addition to Garcia-Tolson, CAF grantees Joe MaCarthy,\nMelanie Benn, Toni Davis, Aimee Bruder, Julie Crisp, Ashley\nNashleanas, Kara Sheridan, Carrie Willoughby, Justin Flemming, and\nJarrett Perry have all made the US Paralympic Swim Team, said Tabi\nKing, CAF director of Programs and Development.</p>"
<https://opedge.com/news_2004-06-02_04/>