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<blockquote data-quote="faulkton" data-source="post: 1688906" data-attributes="member: 561910">COLUMBIA, Md. -- A disabled track star is suing the Howard County School System for the chance to compete with her teammates.Tatyana McFadden, 16, races in a wheelchair but wants to be treated like any other runner. She was born with spina bifida, but she has overcome the disability to become a world-class athlete.McFadden races track, plays wheelchair basketball and hockey, and swims. She won two medals in the 2004 Paralympics.McFadden is a member of the track team at Atholton High School in Columbia, Md., but she&#039;s excluded from racing with her teammates in meets. Come race time, she watches from the sidelines, then goes around the track in a separate heat alone.Deborah McFadden has filed a lawsuit in federal court to allow her daughter the chance to compete with her teammates. Tatyana McFadden is not asking to be timed the same. She just wants to be included.The director of public relations for Howard County schools said it&#039;s an issue of safety -- an injury risk for McFadden, her teammates and opponents -- and that wheelchair track events and traditional ones are two different sports.Her teammates say McFadden has taught them that being an athlete is not about having legs but about having heart. McFadden has the full support of her teammates and their parents.<a href="http://www.nbc4.com/news/8038590/detail.html" target="_blank">http://www.nbc4.com/news/8038590/detail.html</a></blockquote>

[QUOTE="faulkton, post: 1688906, member: 561910"] COLUMBIA, Md. -- A disabled track star is suing the Howard County School System for the chance to compete with her teammates. Tatyana McFadden, 16, races in a wheelchair but wants to be treated like any other runner. She was born with spina bifida, but she has overcome the disability to become a world-class athlete. McFadden races track, plays wheelchair basketball and hockey, and swims. She won two medals in the 2004 Paralympics. McFadden is a member of the track team at Atholton High School in Columbia, Md., but she's excluded from racing with her teammates in meets. Come race time, she watches from the sidelines, then goes around the track in a separate heat alone. Deborah McFadden has filed a lawsuit in federal court to allow her daughter the chance to compete with her teammates. Tatyana McFadden is not asking to be timed the same. She just wants to be included. The director of public relations for Howard County schools said it's an issue of safety -- an injury risk for McFadden, her teammates and opponents -- and that wheelchair track events and traditional ones are two different sports. [B][SIZE=14px]Her teammates say McFadden has taught them that being an athlete is not about having legs but about having heart.[/SIZE][/B][B] [/B] McFadden has the full support of her teammates and their parents. [URL="http://www.nbc4.com/news/8038590/detail.html"]http://www.nbc4.com/news/8038590/detail.html[/URL] [/QUOTE]

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