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HALL OF FAME FREEDOM RYDER HAS CLAIMED 4 GOLD, TWO SILVER AND A BRONZE MEDAL IN THE MEN’S EUROPEAN WORLD HANDCYCLING CHAMPIONSHIPS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS. On this page we would like to celebrate the contributions made by the many athletes and professionals that have made Freedom Ryder what it is today. In roughly chronological order we will share the history of handcycling as a sport as seen through their eyes and accomplishments of the many riders who have reached deep within themselves to win medals, ride around the world, across the country or many other worthy accomplishments. STEVE ACKERMAN What better place to start then with Steve Ackerman In 1995 Steve had the chance to join World T.E.A.M. Sports along with Dave Cornelson and Rory McCarthy and ride completely around the world (world records). This effort of theirs established handcycling as a sport and caused many people and other companies to come into the sport. Aside from his 13,000 mile trip around the world Steve has completed "Ride the Rockies" every year for the past ten years and has also completed the "Seattle to Portland" and numerous other rides too many to count. He has appeared in our ads, on our website and is official "Poster Boy" for Freedom Ryder. Many early riders owe their introduction to the sport to Steve. GREG HOCKENSMITH
For the past 16
years, Greg Hockensmith has exemplified the spirit
However, as
usual, the path of greatness is never an easy one. Greg was injured in a
traumatic car accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down at the age of
16. Determined to not let this slow him down, it was sport that he felt was not
only the great “equalizer” but also a way for him to excel.
When asked the question “why?” when it comes to all the sacrifice and hard work that has gone into his success, Greg responds, “It is important to realize that simply being a great cyclist is never going to make someone rich or extravagantly famous, even after having the greatest of victories, but it is through spreading the story of triumph and success that I hope thousands of others will be inspired to create greatness in their own lives; on and off the bike.” |
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Webmaster: Mike @ Freedomryder.com Last modified: 03/01/06 |
shown here on an early model Freedom Ryder "Classic". Steve is "handcycling personified".
Steve first contacted us around 1991 and offered to help us sell handcycles.
Since then he has worked for us managing sales.
of
sport, perseverance, and accomplishment. It has been this drive and desire to
succeed that has endured with him in his handcycling career, a sport in which he
has been a dominating figure for the last 5 years, and most recently, landed him
a Paralympic birth in the 2004 Games in Athens, Greece. Last September, Greg
competed in the Paralympic road race and individual time trial with 3 other
American handcyclists, all of which earned their spots by placing qualifying
times at the Paralympic and World Cup qualifier held in Frisco, TX in June of
last year. Leading up to the Games, the team lived and trained at the Olympic
Training Center in Colorado Springs when not racing or training at home. They
also received the coaching tutelage of Charmichael Training Systems, the same
coaching given to teams such as U.S. Postal and athletes such as Lance
Armstrong.
At
a very young age, Greg had tremendous success as a wheelchair racer, and then it
was wheelchair basketball that enabled him to go to college where he played for
the Temple Rollin’ Owls in Philadelphia. While traveling the country and
competing, Greg managed to earn his Bachelor’s and eventually a Master’s degree
in neurophysiology. By the late 90’s, it was his new found love of handcycling
that inspired Greg to move across the country to Arizona where he knew the year
around sun shine and strong cycling influence of Tucson would fuel his passion.
By 1998 he had won his first big race, a 367 mile stage race from Fairbanks to
Anchorage in Alaska. Since then, Greg has won numerous National titles and
domestic races, has won at least 3 International Gold medals, one world record,
and a World Championship.