Meet the Cedar Rapids Athlete Competing in the Paralympic Games in Paris

The Paralympic Games, or Paralympics, are a series of international multisport events for athletes with disabilities. The Paralympics are comparable to the Olympic Games and are held every two years, alternating between summer and winter events. The Paralympics are governed by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC)

Which Iowa athletes are competing in the Paralympics?

There are seven Iowans competing in the Paralympics happening in Paris, France.  I'd like to introduce you to one of those Olympians and that is AJ Daxton Fitzpatrick.  AJ (born August 28, 2004) is an American wheelchair basketball player who will compete for the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.

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Where is AJ from in Iowa?

Fitzpatrick grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he attended Prairie High School. On May 17, 2022, he committed to playing wheelchair basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. During his freshman year, he earned a spot on the 2022–23 All-Rookie Team and played a crucial role in leading the Warhawks to victory in the 2024 National Wheelchair Basketball Association men's intercollegiate division national championship.

What is AJ's Olympic background?
In November 2023, Fitzpatrick competed for the United States at the Parapan American Games and secured a gold medal in wheelchair basketball. This achievement ensured Team USA's automatic qualification for the 2024 Summer Paralympics. On March 30, 2024, Fitzpatrick was officially selected to represent the United States at the upcoming Games.

We look forward to watching AJ and the rest of the athletes from Iowa as they compete for gold.  You are able to see the Paralympic games on NBC as well as the streaming service Peacock.