Peter

Gottwald

In 2003, Paralympian Peter Gottwald Jr. graduated from California High School, where he holds the school record in the 5K (15:08) and is second-fastest in the mile. Retired U.S. Paralympian Vince Martin and his cross country coach, Steve Armstrong, introduced Gottwald Jr. to the Paralympics. Vince Touey, a coach from Widener University, along with his father, Schuyler Gottwald Sr., helped him out tremendously. Without those two, his schooling at West Chester University and training for his first Paralympic Team would not have been possible. His father drove him everywhere for college, training and races, and Coach Touey took time to write his workouts.

At the 2008 Paralympic Games, Gottwald Jr. proved that all the hours of training and hard work eventually pay off. He rewarded everyone who contributed to his Paralympic dream by winning a silver medal in the 800m T13.

Gottwald graduated from West Chester University in Pennsylvania with a teaching degree in the field of health and physical education and also got his Master's degree from the same college. He is now completing his Post Bachelor's degree in Elementary Education K-6 and will start a Doctoral Program in the Fall of 2012 in Educational Technology.

http://www.sobe1.net/Beijing2008.html

Major Achievements:

• 2008: Silver medal, Men's 800m T13 - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
• 2008: Named to the 2008 Paralympic Track and Field Team
• 2007: Bronze medal, 800m, fourth place, 1500m - IPC Para Pan American Games, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• 2006: Fifth place, 800m and 1500m - IPC World Championships, Assen, Netherlands
• 2005: Eighth place, 5,000m - IPC European Championships, Espoo, Finland
• 2004: Fifth place, 800m, eighth place, 1,500m - Paralympic Games, Athens, Greece