Ian Silverman, a Paralympic world record holder who took home a gold medal in the S-10 division at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, has been bounced from disabled swimming completely.
Silverman, who is a freshman at the University of Southern California after training with North Baltimore Aquatics, was told recently that he is no longer welcome into the Paralympic family.
“Today has probably been the hardest day in my swimming career,” Silverman posted. “I have been classified out of my S-10 category for Paralympic swimming. I am not mad and I don’t feel sorry for myself. I’m more sad for my family who have sacrificed so much to take me to physical therapist, and doctor appointments no matter how far or how much and tended to me through surgeries and leg casting to basically have that discredited. The fight is not over and I thank everyone and all my friends who have supported me and will continue too.#freecrazylegs”
The International Paralympic Committee regularly checks up on the classification of its athletes, and Silverman has been told that he is no longer seen as disabled by the IPC.
Silverman suffers from a mild form of cerebral palsy that impacts his legs. His support hashtag is currently #freecrazylegs, which is one of his nicknames.
Wow! Ian’s CP has been cured! Ridiculous. WADA needs to check out the IPC classifiers involved in this.
Hayley Morris
This is sad.
No legitimate paralympian swims for USC. The pity party just makes me want to barf.
thats because there has never been a paralympian in the US like him before, other s10 swimmers from other countries could, he is just fortunate enough to get the opportunity too
You need to check yourself. Ian has dealt with CP all of his life, enduring countless surgery and years of leg braces. He can not legally do a breaststroke kick due to his condition and is tirelessly walking on his toes all day because his legs to not allow him to walk normally.
Also, your argument that he is not capable of swimming for a Division one program such as USC because he is a paralympian is even more disgusting.
Check what you’ve accomplished against the odds and then get back to me when you compare yourself to his accomplishments.