As a young up and coming competitive swimmer, Cheryl Angelelli had always dreamed of competing in the Olympics someday. However a devastating accident at the age of 14, would change the course of her dreams forever. While practicing a new racing dive, Angelelli hit her head at the bottom of the pool and broke her neck. Despite the challenges of living as a quadriplegic, Angelelli turned stumbling blocks into stepping stones, and turned tragedy into triumph.

In 1998, she returned to competitive swimming after a 15-year absence. Just two years later, she earned a spot on the prestigious U.S. Paralympic Swim Team and competed in both the 2000 Summer Games in Sydney, Australia and the 2004 Summer Games in Athens, Greece where she won two bronze medals. Most recently she won two gold medals at the IPC Swimming World Championships and is currently ranked number one in the world in the 200-meter freestyle.

Angelelli’s success in the pool and in life is the subject of a documentary film entitled “Untold Dreams.” For more information on the film, visit http://www.untolddreams.net/  Angelelli co-produced the film to help build awareness about the Paralympics and the many abilities of persons with disabilities.

Candidates have been nominated in 14 categories we will also give out an “Emerging Leader” award.  All nominees have been included in the online balloting process by which NSCIA members will determine top finalists in each category. Finalists will be reviewed and vetted by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee to confirm the final determination of inductees.  

Voting begins Oct 1 and ends Friday, Oct 5 at 5:00 p.m. EST. You must be a member of the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) to vote, but becoming a member is free and easy! To vote, click here.

2007 SCI Hall of Fame inductees will be announced at the third annual SCI Hall of Fame™ induction ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on the evening of Tuesday, November 6.

The mission of The National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) is to enable people with spinal cord injury and disease (SCI/D) to achieve their highest level of independence, health, and personal fulfillment by providing resources, services, and peer support.

NSCIA actively advocates for best practices and public policies that proactively affect people with SCI/D, their families and service providers. The Association conducts public policy initiatives through its local chapters and at the national level and actively collaborates with other national organizations on issues of mutual concern.