Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind the source for blindness news and information since 1907

By Carl Wagenfohr © Clearwater Gazette, Florida — While the picture-perfect weather and record-setting performances by professional competitors Michael Raelert and Julie Dibbens gathered most of the Ironman 70.3 World Championship headlines in Clearwater last weekend, it’s the efforts of two sight-impaired athletes that provided the inspiration. Ryan Van Praet and Aaron Scheides competed with the assistance of guides provided by the C Different Foundation, an organization that was founded to inspire visually impaired people to lead healthy and active lives. For the Ironman 70.3 world championship, C Different guides Matt Ryan, paired with Scheidies, and Sydney Trefiak, teamed with Van Praet, led their athletes around the swim and run legs using a tether, and took the front seat of a tandem bicycle during the bike leg. Scheidies and Van Praet both finished the 70.3-mile event, Scheidies beating his goal of 4 hours 20 minutes by one minute, and Van Praet finishing in a respectable 4:43:52…. READ ARTICLE

© KPRC-TV, SUGAR LAND, Texas — Three blind athletes competed in a Sugar Land triathlon Sunday with the help of sighted competitors. More than 800 people signed up for the 17th Annual Amica Try Andy’s Tri, but three received a heroes’ welcome. The visually impaired athletes came from Seattle, Wa., Tallahassee, Fla., and Austin to compete, thanks to the C Different Foundation…. READ ARTICLE

By Diane Tezeno © Sugar Land Sun, Texas — Sugar Land resident Matt Miller’s vision to include visually-impaired individuals in athletic competitions led to the creation of the “C Different Foundation” in 2001. This weekend that vision will bring four blind athletes to Sugar Land to compete in the 17th Annual AMICA Try Andy’s triathlon, a first in the competition’s history in the Houston area…. READ ARTICLE

By Matt Long © Folsom Telegraph, California — Richard Hunter Richard Hunter is legally blind but he doesn’t let his lack of sight stop him from setting ambitious goals and achieving them. The 42-year-old has completed a Boston Marathon and late last year, decided he needed a new challenge. After eight months of training, Hunter finished a half-ironman triathlon in Augusta, Ga. on Sept. 27, completing the 1.2-mile open water swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run in 5 hours, 19 minutes and 57 seconds…. READ ARTICLE