Erik Hightower

Last updated
Erik Hightower
Personal information
Born (1986-04-06) 6 April 1986 (age 37)
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Sport
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
Sport Paralympic athletics
Disability Spina bifida
Disability class T54
Coached by Joaquim Cruz
Medal record
Paralympic athletics
Representing Flag of the United States.svg  United States
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Dubai Universal 4x100m relay
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2006 Assen 4x100m relay T53-54
Parapan American Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 Guadalajara 100m T54
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Lima Universal 4x100m relay
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2011 Guadalajara 200m T54
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2015 Toronto 400m T54
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Lima 100m T54
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2019 Lima 400m T54
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2007 Rio de Janeiro 200m T54
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2011 Guadalajara 400m T54

Erik Hightower (born 6 April 1986) is an American Paralympic athlete who competes in wheelchair racing events at international elite competitions and has participated at three Paralympic Games. He is a double Parapan American Games champion and a World champion in the 4 x 100 metre relay. [1] [2]

Theft of wheelchair

In June 2014, Hightower's custom made $5,000 racing wheelchair was stolen from his cousin's truck in Anderson Township, Ohio. He had visited the Mercy Anderson Hospital to visit someone and then an hour later, he noticed that his chair had gone missing which he only had bought two months ago. He and his family were confused on why the perpetrator would steal his wheelchair that was "useless for anybody else", he had a theory that the culprit could be stealing his wheelchair to collect scrap metal and he contacted local scrap metal businesses to warn about his stolen wheelchair and reported the theft to the police. Hightower also asked for the CCTV footage of the hospital's car park but there was no camera coverage of the car park where his cousin's truck was parked. [3]

His wheelchair was later recovered a week later when it was found in a baseball field in New Richmond. [4]

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References

  1. "Erik Hightower - IPC Athlete Bio". ipc.infostradasports.com. 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 12 November 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. "Erik Hightower - Team USA". Team USA. 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021.
  3. "Racing wheelchair stolen from Paralympic athlete". Fox 19. 1 July 2014.
  4. "Paralympian's stolen $5k wheelchair recovered". cincinnati.com. 8 July 2014.