Erik
Hightower

Paralympian 2008, 2016, 2020

Athlete Bio#

5'10"

Pheonix, AZ

Cactus High School (Glendale, Ariz.)

classification: T54

Born with spina bifida, Hightower has been wheelchair racing for more than a decade
He started at age eight after his parents learned about the sport at a conference for the Spina Bifida Association
He didn’t take to it right away but eventually found success, competing at the 2008 and 2016 Paralympic Games
He has lived at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Center since 2014 and married U.S. teammate Kym Crosby in September 2018
Son of Debra and Richard Hightower
Has a brother, Richard Hightower IV
Hobbies include model building, playing sports and video gaming, watching movies, fishing, sport card collecting.

Most recent: 2019 – gold (4x100-meter universal relay), 6th (100-meter)

Years of Participation: 2006, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019

Medals: 2 (1 gold, 1 silver)

Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, 9th (100m T54 - Men)
Paralympic Games Rio de Janeiro 2016, 7th (100m T54 - Men), 14th (400m T54 - Men)
Paralympic Games Beijing 2008, 5th (4 x 400m Relay T53-54 - Men), 11th (400m T54 - Men), 12th (100m T54 - Men), 13th (200m T54 - Men)

Most recent: 2019 – gold (Universal Relay - Mixed), 6th (100m T54 - Men)
Years of participation: 100m T54 - Men 2006, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019; Universal Relay - Mixed 2019; 200m T54 - Men 2006, 2013, 2015, 2017; 400m T54 - Men 2013, 2015, 2017; 800m T54 - Men 2015; 4 x 400m Relay T53-54 - Men 2013; 4 x 100m Relay T53-54 - Men 2006
Medals: 2 (1 gold, 1 silver)