Mikhaila Rutherford

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Mikhaila Rutherford
Sport
Country United States
SportParalympic swimming
DisabilityLimb abnormalities due to radiation exposure
Disability classS10
Medal record
Paralympic swimming
Representing  United States
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens 100m backstroke S10
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens 200m individual medley SM10
Gold medal – first place 2004 Athens 4x100m medley relay 34pts
Silver medal – second place 2004 Athens 100m breaststroke SB8
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2002 Mar del Plata 100m backstroke S10
Silver medal – second place 2002 Mar del Plata 100m breaststroke SB8
Silver medal – second place 2002 Mar del Plata 200m individual medley SM10
Silver medal – second place 2002 Mar del Plata 5km open water
Bronze medal – third place 2002 Mar del Plata 100m butterfly S10

Mikhaila Rutherford is an American former paralympic swimmer. She won three gold medals and one silver at the 2004 Summer Paralympics.

Early life[edit]

Rutherford was born in a small Russian village around 30 kilometers from Chernobyl, which was the site of a nuclear disaster in 1986. As a result of the disaster, Rutherford was born premature and missing limbs. Due to her disability, her parents put her up for adoption where she was taken in by an American woman at the age of four.[1] She began swimming at the age of eight and competed in swimming competitions in high school.[2]

Career[edit]

While attending Alameda High School, Rutherford was invited to compete with Team USA's National Swim Team.[3] She qualified for the 2002 IPC World Championships where she set a new world mark in the S10 Women's 100 backstroke.[4] Rutherford later beat her old world record for the Women's 100 metre backstroke S10 at the 2004 Summer Paralympics, winning gold in the making.[5][6] She finished the competition with three gold medals and one silver.[7]

After graduating from high school in 2006, Rutherford accepted a placement at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a major in biomedical engineering.[3] In 2018, Rutherford was inducted into the Alameda High School Athletic Hall of Fame.[8]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "MIKHAILA RUTHERFORD". alamedasportsproject.com. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  2. ^ "Girl disfigured by Chernoby now Paralympic swimmer". Ukiah Daily Journal. California. April 30, 2006.Free access icon
  3. ^ a b Hill, Angela (April 29, 2006). "Victim of Chernobyl disaster a champion island swimmer". East Bay Times. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  4. ^ "USA Finishes With 33 Medals at Paralympic World Champs". swimmingworldmagazine.com. December 20, 2002. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  5. ^ "Popovich captures fifth gold in Athens". Colorado Springs Gazette. Colorado. September 26, 2004.Free access icon
  6. ^ "Sixième médaille pour Dixon". rds.ca (in French). September 25, 2004. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  7. ^ Fairley, Miki (December 2004). "PARALYMPICS SHATTERS RECORDS, RAISES THE BAR". opedge.com. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  8. ^ "Hornets Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony Set". alamedasun.com. June 7, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2019.

External links[edit]

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