Eva Houston

Eva Houston
Personal information
Born (2001-01-24) January 24, 2001 (age 23)[1]
Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S.
Home townOmaha, Nebraska, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Sport
SportPara-athletics
DisabilityCerebral palsy
Disability classT34
EventWheelchair racing
Medal record
Para-athletics
Representing the  United States
Paralympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris 800 m T34
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Paris 800 m T34

Eva Houston (born January 24, 2001) is an American T34 wheelchair racer.

Early life and education

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Houston was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. She attended Westside High School in Omaha.[2] She played wheelchair basketball for seven years before transitioning to wheelchair racing at 15 years old, during her freshman year of high school.[3][4]

After high school, she attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she majored in natural resources and Environmental science.[4] She chose the University of Illinois due to their wheelchair racing team. In 2023 she competed in the inaugural national collegiate wheelchair championships at the Drake Relays.[5]

Career

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On June 24, 2021, Houston was selected to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[6] She competed in the 100 metres and 800 metres T34 events.[7]

On May 21, 2023, she was selected to represent the United States at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships.[8] During her World Para Athletics Championships debut, she won a bronze medal in the 800 metres T34 event. She also competed in the 100 metres T34 and finished in fourth place with a personal best time of 19.28.[9]

In July 2024, during the U.S. Paralympic team trials, she qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[10][11]

Personal life

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Houston was born with cerebral palsy.[12] Houston is queer.[3]

References

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  1. ^ "Eva Houston". Paris 2024 Paralympics. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  2. ^ "Omaha woman headed to Paralympic Games in Tokyo". 3newsnow.com. July 23, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "How Wheelchair Racing Challenged My Relationship With My Disability". oiselle.com. December 15, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Eva Houston". teamusa.com. November 3, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Drumwright, Steve (April 27, 2023). "Eva Houston Is Relishing The Opportunity To Compete For A National Championship At The Drake Relays". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Lieberman, Stuart (June 24, 2021). "Meet The U.S. Paralympic Women's Track And Field Team For Tokyo". teamusa.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  7. ^ Haueter, Kylee (August 11, 2021). "Omaha native headed to Tokyo to compete in Paralympics". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (May 21, 2023). "Forty-Five Athletes Selected To Represent Team USA At 2023 World Para Athletics Championships". teamusa.org. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Drumwright, Steve (October 17, 2023). "Eva Houston Is As Confident As She's Ever Been". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (July 21, 2024). "Fifty-four Athletes Nominated to U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  11. ^ Reilly, Maeve (August 13, 2024). "Continuing success: Illinois wheelchair racers ready for the Paralympic Games". University of Illinois. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "Dad pushes daughter's wheelchair on field to fulfill her marching band wish". Fox32chicago.com. November 12, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
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