Los Fresnos Alum Cheshire Competing in Paralympics

by Ronnie Zamora/LFCISD

Shawn Cheshire, a 1994 graduate of Los Fresnos High School, is part of the United States team competing in the Paralympic games which started Wednesday, August 31st, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Cheshire, who has a visual impairment, will be competing in Tandem Paracycling events, where cyclists with visual impairments are paired with a sighted pilot. Her tandem bike pilot is Mackenzie Woodring.

Rio de Janeiro opened the Paralympic Games on Wednesday with samba, parading wheelchairs, giant balloons at a sold-out Maracana stadium. The Opening Ceremonies, featuring a Parade of countries, was held Wednesday.

Cheshire, 41, lost her sight seven years ago after a work accident. She did not make the U.S. team during Paralympic qualifying in July, but was invited after Russia was banned from competing in August. She is one of 289 Americans competing in Rio until Sept. 18.

Blind, missing limbs, or partially paralyzed, more than 4,300 of the world’s toughest and most competitive disabled paraded ahead of 11 days of contests Wednesday. Some pushed their own wheelchairs, others were pushed, while others limped. Athletes from 176 countries are competing in 528 medal events.

Cheshire, whose father Rocky is employed by the Los Fresnos CISD, now lives in Camillus, New York. While at LFHS, she was a cheerleader and competed on the basketball and track teams.