Ella Chafee

Ella Chafee née Cox (1945–June 16, 2019) was an American wheelchair basketball player and wheelchair fencer who competed at three Paralympic Games. She also took part in track and field and swimming.[1]

Ella Chafee
Personal information
Born1945 (1945)
Chicago, Illinois, United States
DiedJune 16, 2019(2019-06-16) (aged 73–74)
Oak Lawn, Illinois, United States
Alma materUniversity of Illinois
Height5 ft 2 in (157 cm)
Sport
SportWheelchair fencing
Wheelchair basketball
ClubChicago Charmers
Medal record
Representing  United States
Paralympic Games
Paralympic swimming
Silver medal – second place1964 Tokyo50m freestyle supine class 3
Silver medal – second place1964 Tokyo50m freestyle prone class 3
Paralympic athletics
Gold medal – first place1968 Tel AvivWomen's 4x40m relay open
Wheelchair fencing
Bronze medal – third place1964 TokyoWomen's foil team
Wheelchair basketball
Bronze medal – third place1968 Tel AvivWomen's tournament

Sporting career

Chafee contracted polio when she was six years old during the 1950s. She took part in wheelchair racing in the early 1960s as well as wheelchair basketball, she and her sister-in-law Hope Chafee, who also has polio, both took part in the 1964 Summer Paralympics where Ella won two medals in swimming and Hope won three medals. Ella participated in the 1968 Summer Paralympics and won the gold medal in the women's 4x40m relay. Ella returned to the Games in 1996 as a wheelchair fencer.[2][3][4]

In 1979, Chafee took part in the Boston Marathon in the wheelchair division where she raced in her everyday use wheelchair.[5]

Death

Chafee died of a liver aneurysm aged 74 at a hospital in Oak Lawn on June 16, 2019.[6]

References
  1. "Ella Chafee - NWBA". National Wheelchair Basketball Association. 4 August 2017.
  2. "Renovating a Landmark" (PDF). LAS News. 1 December 2015.
  3. "Ella Chafee - IPC Profile". International Paralympic Committee. 29 May 2023.
  4. "E. Cox - IPC Profile". International Paralympic Committee. 29 May 2023.
  5. "Ella Chafee - Oiselle". Oiselle. 29 May 2023.
  6. "Paralympic Ella Chafee dies at 74". Chicago Tribune. 15 July 2019.
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