1. Physical Impairment:   Paraplegia T12 (waist down), March 1992, while skiing at South Lake Tahoe   2. Challenges of Having a Physical Impairment: I feel my disability is more inconvenient than anything else. Everything takes a little bit longer to complete.  I think that having a disability forces one to plan ahead.   3. Education: BS in Occupational Science at San Jose State University   4. Employment: Part time Occupational Therapist & Professional athlete. Won 13 U.S. National titles in handcycling and eight races in Europe and Australia.  Named the Athlete of the Year by Wheelchair Sports USA in 2003 and ranked # 1 by the IPC for four years (currently ranked #2).  Also, member on the board of Directors of Adaptive Adventures, a DSUSA chapter.   5. Interests / Hobbies: Nordic skiing, handcycling and baking anything chocolate                         6. Life’s Ambition / Goals / Passion: To share, educate and model to others that there is still a great deal of ability left in a wheelchair users. My immediate goal is to make the podium at the 2006 Paralympics in Torino, Italy   7. Advice “Life’s Lesson”: Be creative! Be adaptable to solve problems and obstacles that may come your way. There is always a way!      To read more about Bascio, scroll down

Monica Bascio is a former world champion handcyclist who shifted her attention to cross country skiing when her event was cut from the Paralympics after five years as a cyclist on the national team. She still bikes during the summer to round out her off-season training, which now includes getting off-road on the mountain board or roller ski.   Monica has recently named to the US National disabled cycling team, having met the elite criteria at the European Championships this past August in Alkmaar, Netherlands.  With new plans for female handcyclists slated for the 2008 Paralympics in Bejing, Bascio is back in the game.

She joined the World Cup tour of disabled Nordic skiing her first year with a flourish (one podium, top-five in all four races) at the end of the 2004 season and further solidified her role as a challenger for this season with a couple of top-five results.   After a challenging second year on the team, Bascio is more motivated than ever for the upcoming Paralympic games. "All my energy is on getting to Torino and performing at my best" next March.   After that, she jumps right into training for the World Cycling Championships. It's a full schedule, but one which gives her total fulfillment. Bascio rounds out the remainder of her off-training time by working part time as an Occupational Therapist. "It was important to me to finish my degree after my injury. Sports came later."   Bascio was hardly a competitive athlete prior to her accident. "I feel strongly that pursuing sport with a disability can ensure a healthy and stress-reducing lifestyle. This all would not be possible without the faith and support of her sponsors, Invacare Top End, and Road Runner Business Class Time Warner, Co. Monica lives in Colorado where she can train and play outside all year long in the sunny mountains, with her husband, Ian, and her favorite golden retrievers, Frank and Jack.         © 2005 J Carlton Media LLC

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