Remembering Dual-Sport Paralympian Curtis Lovejoy
The man. The myth. The legend. An inspiration to all. Curtis Lovejoy, or better known as “C-Love,” a five-time Paralympian and dual-sport athlete recently passed away at 63 years old. Only weeks after retiring from Paralympic swimming and fencing, Lovejoy passed away in his Atlanta home after a battle with blood cancer.
Former Paralympic Swimmer Dave Denniston reminisced about Lovejoy by saying: “C-Love wasn’t just his name, it was how he lived his life. He embodied living with love for everyone. There aren’t a lot of people that can influence everyone around them in a positive way. Curtis was someone who reveled in the ability to do so.”
Photo Courtesy: Tom Franke
A tragic car accident in 1986 left a 29-year-old Lovejoy with a spinal cord injury and subsequent paralysis. Lovejoy became a patient at a rehabilitation clinic, the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia, where he received therapy for his paralysis. He remained loyal to this hospital for many years following his therapy.
Tom Franke, a former U.S. Paralympic Swimming coach, remembers Curtis’s attitude towards his paralysis: “Here is a young man who was fully able-bodied and whose paralysis changed his life. Curtis was able and then disabled. He never complained. He never appeared to be sorry for himself. His reaction to his paralysis and his ‘God has a different path for me now’ attitude were what made him an inspiration.”
Lovejoy, who was initially afraid of the water, soon fell in love with the sport after being introduced to swimming as a form of therapy. He soon realized that he could have a future in Paralympic sports.
Throughout his record-setting career, Lovejoy competed in five Paralympic Games and won two gold, one silver, and one bronze medal at the Paralympic Games. At the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney, Lovejoy became the first athlete to compete in two non-related sports at a Paralympic Games.
His medal count did not stop there. According to his website, thecurtislovejoy.com, “Now, he has won over 500 gold medals in swimming, 200 in fencing, has set 12 world records and is ranked the number one (Paralympic) fencer in the world.”
Photo Courtesy: Carmen Hermes
Lovejoy was known and loved around the world for his famous smile, sleeping during team meetings, buying an enormous number of souvenirs, and for having a pair of sneakers for every occasion. At each meet, everyone knew him. The other swimmers, coaches, timers, officials, and spectators. Everyone respected Lovejoy and it was apparent how everyone looked up to him. His smile was infectious as he rolled in his wheelchair around the pool deck.
“Curtis was a force on Team USA – he was a leader, a friend, a motivator, and a mentor. I don’t think that you can find a Team USA athlete who traveled with Curtis or attended a camp with Curtis who doesn’t have a touching story about an interaction with Curtis,” U.S. Paralympic Swimming National Team coach, Jeannine Carpenter, said. “When Curtis spoke at a team meeting, everyone listened. When Curtis led a team cheer, everyone was a little louder.”
Lovejoy’s impact showed when spectators and athletes from around the world cheered him on. He shared his vast knowledge of athletics, life, faith, and overcoming adversity with all who would listen. Lovejoy was not just an athlete but a coach, leader, and mentor.
Former Para swimmer Ashley Bateman said about her beloved coach: “Curtis was my coach and mentor. I came from a competitive swimming background before my injury so for me, he was a source of strength encompassing even the mental aspect of swimming. He was so dedicated and so determined, it was contagious. He helped me focus on competing with myself and my own goals instead of others in the pool.”
A natural born leader, Lovejoy always took his role on Team USA seriously. Coaches, teammates, and competitors alike looked up to their older and wiser counterpart. He was often a source of inspiration which kept many of his teammates from giving up after a tough race because no matter what, he was always going to do his best.
Photo Courtesy: Tom Franke
“Curtis was always seen as a team leader because he was often the oldest member of the team, and because the other athletes trusted him,” Franke said. “Usually, the role of team captain went to someone more outspoken, but when he was the leader, he enjoyed the honor. His leadership style was to speak less, walk the talk, and let others do the ‘rah-rah’ speeches.”
As Lovejoy aged, he seemed to get wiser and more insightful. His life’s experiences fueled him to be better each day and he instilled that determination in those around him.
“We could all learn more than a few things from Curtis, but his drive to compete was absolutely incredible,” Carpenter said. “He unhesitatingly stared down obstacles and overcame them. He never let his age stop his pursuit because age really was just a number to him. He never let his disability stop him from excelling at life – all facets of life. Curtis was a champion. He lived like a champion. He competed like a champion. He behaved like a champion.”
The “Living Legend” is now truly a legend. Lovejoy left behind a decorated career in the pool and in the fencing arena, but it is not just his medal count but his personality and his smile that will forever leave a lasting impact on the world.
“You can say he was inspiring because he was this age or that classification, but no. Curtis was inspiring because he worked hard,” Bateman said. “He set goals and worked to achieve them. That’s it! Did he make all those goals? No. But that never stopped him. On Monday he would get in the pool and keep working. That’s why he inspires me and that’s what I will miss the most.”
Rest in peace C-Love. We all smile a little brighter just by remembering your name.
Very nice memorial to a wonderful man.
My condolences to you Mamie.
Love Melinda & family