Roderick Townsend Biography

Roderick Townsend is a Paralympic gold medal-winning track and field star renowned for his dominance in the T46/T47 classification for athletes with upper limb impairments. Hailing from Stockton, California, he was born with a brachial plexus injury, damaging a network of nerves near his shoulder and affecting his right arm. Determined not to be defined by his physical limitations, he played football for two years in high school, serving as a team captain before earning a degree in communications from Boise State University. 

He won gold in the high jump at the 2016 Rio and 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, setting a world record of 2.15 meters in 2021. His long jump achievements include earning silver in Rio and gold in Tokyo, complemented by three world championship titles. Townsend's athletic prowess stems from rigorous training and mental resilience, balancing his role as a husband and father. His advocacy for disability inclusion and representation in sports has made him a global inspiration. He is a men's and women's track & field coach at Northern Arizona University.

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