Curtis Lovejoy

Curtis Lovejoy (May 13, 1957 – March 11, 2021) was an American Paralympic swimmer.[1][2] In 2000, he won the gold medal in the men's 50 metre freestyle S2 and the men's 100 metre freestyle S2 events at the 2000 Summer Paralympics held in Sydney, Australia. He also won two medals in swimming at the 2004 Summer Paralympics held in Athens, Greece. He also competed in wheelchair fencing.

Curtis Lovejoy
Personal information
Born(1957-05-13)May 13, 1957
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
DiedMarch 11, 2021(2021-03-11) (aged 63)
Sport
SportSwimming
ClassificationsS2
Medal record
Men's swimming
Representing  United States
Summer Paralympics
Gold medal – first place2000 Sydney50m freestyle S2
Gold medal – first place2000 Sydney100m freestyle S2
Silver medal – second place2004 Athens100m freestyle S2
Bronze medal – third place2004 Athens50m freestyle S2
World Championships (LC)
Gold medal – first place2002 Mar del Plata50m freestyle S2
Gold medal – first place2006 Durban150m individual medley SM2
Silver medal – second place1998 Christchurch50m breaststroke SB1
Silver medal – second place2002 Mar del Plata150m individual medley SM2
Bronze medal – third place2002 Mar del Plata100m freestyle S2
Bronze medal – third place2006 Durban50m freestyle S2
Bronze medal – third place2006 Durban200m freestyle S2
Bronze medal – third place2006 Durban4x50m freestyle relay
World Championships (SC)
Gold medal – first place2009 Rio de Janeiro50m freestyle S3
Bronze medal – third place2009 Rio de Janeiro4x50m freestyle relay
Parapan American Games
Silver medal – second place2015 Toronto4x50m freestyle relay

Early life

In 1986, he was paralyzed from the neck down after a car accident.[3][4] He took up swimming as therapy after his accident.

Career

In 2009, he won the gold medal in the men's 50 metre freestyle S3 event at the 2009 IPC Swimming World Championships 25 m held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil with a new world record of 55.77s.[5] He also won the bronze medal in the men's 4×50 m freestyle relay 20 pts event.[5] He was inducted into the Georgia Aquatics Hall of Fame in 2013.[6]

In 2015, he competed in swimming at the Parapan American Games held in Toronto, Canada.[7] He won the silver medal in the mixed 4 x 50 metre freestyle relay 20pts event. He was also the flag bearer for the United States during the opening ceremony of the 2015 Parapan American Games.[7] In 2019, he was inducted into the Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame.[8]

He died on March 11, 2021.[9] He retired earlier in 2021 after being diagnosed with a form of blood cancer.[10]

References
  1. "Curtis Lovejoy - IPC Athlete Bio". ipc.infostradasports.com. March 31, 2021.
  2. Planos, Josh (October 19, 2015). "For Paralympian Curtis Lovejoy, '86 car accident was "one of the best things that's ever happened to me."". Atlanta Magazine. Archived from the original on February 23, 2019. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  3. "Curtis Lovejoy". Team USA. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  4. Dziak, Mark (March 14, 2021). "Curtis Lovejoy, 2-time Paralympic Gold Medalist Dies at 63". SwimSwam. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  5. "Swimming Rio 2009: Results". Archived from the original on December 3, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2009.
  6. "Shepherd Center Paralympic Athlete Inducted into Georgia Aquatics Hall of Fame". Shepherd Center. August 26, 2013. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  7. Pavitt, Michael (August 7, 2015). "Curtis Lovejoy announced as United States flag bearer for Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games Opening Ceremony". InsideTheGames.biz. Archived from the original on January 3, 2020. Retrieved August 25, 2020.
  8. "Five-Time Paralympian Curtis Lovejoy Officially Inducted Into The Atlanta Sports Hall of Fame". Al Rucker Show. February 6, 2019. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  9. Kortemeier, Todd (March 12, 2021). "Five-Time Paralympian Curtis Lovejoy Passes Away At 63". Team USA. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  10. Pavitt, Michael (March 14, 2021). "Two-time Paralympic champion Lovejoy dies aged 63". InsideTheGames.biz. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
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