Mary Kate Callahan

Mary Kate Callahan - Athlete Page

Women’s Running Magazine: Meet the Elite

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What role do you see yourself filling as a pro athlete?

To have a voice is one of the most powerful things you can do: Stand up for yourself, stand up for your community. I try as much as possible to integrate myself with able-bodied athletes, and I think that’s what we’ll see more disabled athletes doing. You still have the Olympics and the Paralympics, but I train with an able-bodied running group. I think that’s when you push yourself to be the best you can be.

One of the things I love doing most is going out and speaking to kids and really educating people because knowledge is power. When you give kids the opportunity to ask questions, whether they’re about being in a wheelchair or using a racing chair or the equipment I run in, you’re really just providing knowledge. That’s going to make these kids much more aware, so the next time they do have an encounter with someone who’s a disabled athlete, they’re going to be comfortable around them.

Everyone asks, “What’s your key to success? How have you gotten to this point?” I always say that I really just have fun with it.

Mary Kate’s Advice For Aspiring Disabled Athletes

Callahan credits much of her success to the joy she feels while training and racing, but she’s also aware that sticking up for herself is part of what made her journey possible. “Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things,” she advises. “No one knows you better than you. When you speak up, you’re not only speaking up for yourself—you’re likely educating someone else.”

In the News; Young Paratriathlete Takes on IRONMAN

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Mary Kate Callahan, 19, has her athletic focus targeted on IRONMAN Louisville1501 ci callahan 740 in October. As an infant a virus that settled in her spinal cord left Callahan a T8-T10 paraplegic. Her disability hasn’t deterred the University of Arizona psychology student from anything she has put her mind to. She has participated in just about every sport imaginable. In 2014 Callahan notched two wins, in addition to five podium finishes, in para-triathlons. 

In high school, Callahan took on an advocacy role and was instrumental in forcing the Illinois High School Association to create opportunities for disabled swimmers to compete at the state championship level. As a result of her efforts, Callahan and six other girls were the first athletes with a disabilities to compete at an Illinois state championship swim meet. 

Bitterly disappointed to learn that the women’s para-triathlon event would not be part of the Olympics in 2016, Callahan has turned her sights to IRONMAN racing. “I’m super excited to challenge myself in a whole new way in the sport of triathlon,” Callahan told IRONMAN.com this week. “I think hearing those words, ‘Mary Kate Callahan, you are an IRONMAN’ is what is going to drive me in training leading up to Louisville.”

 

Variety the Children’s Charity; Appoints New Live to Achieve Ambassador

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Chicago, IL (August 21, 2014) – Paratriathlon star Mary Kate Callahan has been named Variety the Children’s Charity of Illinois’ first Live to Achieve program ambassador. Callahan, of La Grange, IL is well on her way to achieving her dream of representing the United States in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. To help her realize this goal, Variety of Illinois will provide Mary Kate with the financial assistance necessary to train, travel and compete over the next two years leading up to the Paralympics.

“Variety of Illinois has been able to let children continue to chase after their dreams,” said Mary Kate. “I’m so excited to be a part of the Variety family and I’m even more excited to see what’s in the future for Variety. I hope to be able to show other kids that the sky really is the limit as long as they believe in themselves.”

10488088_808069512560551_5058481956731707533_nMary Kate will serve as the first ambassador for Variety of Illinois’ Live to Achieve, a grant program that promotes active, healthy lifestyles for children with disabilities around the state. In this role, Mary Kate will promote Variety’s groundbreaking grant program through public appearances, social media, and sharing the Variety message at competitions, regionally, nationally and worldwide – including the upcoming World Championships in Edmonton on August 30th and the National Championships in Tempe on September 21st. The former Fenwick standout is preparing to begin her sophomore year at University of Arizona, where she has excelled with the collegiate team, the Tricats. More on Mary Kate’s inspirational story is available by clicking here.

“I know firsthand the importance of sport in the lives of young people with disabilities,” said Variety of Illinois president Linda Mastandrea, herself a Paralympic gold medalist. “We welcome Mary Kate to the Variety family and hope she can help inspire the next generation of successful young people with disabilities – both on and off the playing field.”

About Live to Achieve
The Live to Achieve program helps children in Illinois pursue their dreams of sporting excellence by providing grants to eligible applicants for assistance with travel, training and other costs necessary to help pave the way. For children with disabilities who have the potential to become great athletes, the time, training and travel it takes to achieve that level of greatness – from the local, state, national to Paralympic stages – takes resources…resources that many families don’t have. Variety of Illinois launched the Live to Achieve grant program to help fill that gap.

Teaming up with PR Nutrition

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logoI’m so excited for the opportunity to be teaming up with PR Nutrition! PR Nutrition’s Bar is the official Performance Bar of the U.S Olympic and Paralympic Teams! If you haven’t already- go and try their bars! They are perfect for before or after a training session!