HHS student earns trip to paralympic Winter Games

Posted: Jan. 26, 2010

Sussex — Hamilton High School freshman Ian Kloehn is legally blind.

But the 15-year-old's 20/200 vision hasn't stopped Kloehn from playing junior varsity soccer, running track, downhill skiing and even winning a triathlon over the summer.

Kloehn's dedication to staying active, despite his eyesight, was recognized recently when he earned a trip to the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games in Vancouver this March. The U.S. Paralympics is a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC).

Kloehn, the son of Mike and Tammy Kloehn of Menomonee Falls, submitted an essay that discussed how sport positively impacted his life and on Jan.17, he got the call that he was one of 13 student athletes with physical disabilities and six adults, made up of coaches, teachers and program leaders, picked from the contest to attend the Vancouver games. The delegates were chosen based on the example that each sets in living a healthy, active lifestyle in his or her own community.

"I was so proud," said Tammy. "We were really surprised."

Kloehn's eyesight does not keep him on the sidelines and instead it drives him to keep up with and exceed the abilities of regular-sighted people.

"Sometimes it pushes me to get better and do better at the sports," said Kloehn.

Kloehn and the other delegates of the Paralympic Experience Vancouver will travel to Canada on March 11-17 where they will meet with U.S. Paralympic Team members, attend the Opening Ceremony and athletic competitions, and meet-up with students athletes from Germany.

The goal of the program is that each individual will leave Vancouver with a greater passion for physical activity and be inspired to help grow awareness of sport and recreation for individuals with physical disabilities in their own hometown, according to Chief of Paralympics, USOC Charlie Huebner.

Kloehn said it's a great experience to "know that there's other people like me and some people even worse."

He said he has the opportunity to help others and they can also help him.

"I'm looking forward to meeting a lot of other kids like me," said Kloehn.

No Limits

Kloehn's eyesight does not stand in his way. Instead, he makes modifications.

"It doesn't bother me too much," said Kloehn, who was born visually-impaired.

Kloehn uses a special laptop to see during class and said he has a friend stand next to a jump on the ski hill so he can determine where it is.

Kloehn's eyesight inhibits him from ever having a driver's license, a point that does not worry him much.

"Instead of driving a car, I can bike and stay fit," said Kloehn, who worked as a counselor at the junior Wisconsin Association of Blind Athletes camp at Cardinal Stritch this past summer, a camp he typically participates in every year.

At times, Kloehn's activities make his mother nervous, but she said he has to know his own limitations.

"I just don't want to hold him back from something he can do," Tammy said. "Truly, it makes me very proud when he's out there. He does really well."

Vancouver marks the fourth Paralympic Experience, the first event took place at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece.

"I think it's just great to see other disabled kids making it far and that there are no limitations to what he could do," said Tammy. "It sounds like it is going to be a wonderful experience."

Kloehn said it will be inspiring to meet U.S. Paralympic Team members.

He hopes to be a paralympian in long-distance track in the games two years from now.