2011 Local Athlete Profile
Raymond (Joe) GilkinsonPennsylvania Army National Guard Veteran Although Joe Gilkinson has been competing in wheelchair athletics for over a decade, he participated in his first National Veterans Wheelchair Games in 2010 in Denver. He took home three gold medals in the quad rugby, slalom and 100-meter track events. “I never did a wheelchair slalom before – it was different,” says Gilkinson. “The hard thing is playing with teammates you’re not used to. But I picked up a lot of tricks from the other guys.” Winning the gold for quad rugby was Gilkinson’s proudest moment; he’s played quad rugby with the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers for 13 years. Gilkinson is a member of the Keystone Chapter of Paralyzed Veterans of America (KCPVA), the local PVA chapter in Pittsburgh co-hosting the 2011 Games. Gilkinson discovered the Games through fellow quad rugby player and KCPVA Sports Director Jerry Baylor. “He basically filled out my registration paperwork, said ‘sign it,’ and sent it in,” says Gilkinson. Baylor’s recruitment strategy worked - this year Gilkinson will compete in the same events, as well as the 200-meter track race. He’s been amping up his regular workout routine to prepare for the Games, where his wife, daughter and mother will all be there to cheer him on. “I really enjoyed the games in Denver last year – I’ve never been there before. I also got to meet a lot of new people,” Gilkinson said. |
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Reviewed/Updated Date: July 22, 2011