Erik Hightower

Erik Hightower (born 6 April 1986) is an American Paralympic athlete who competes in wheelchair racing events at international elite competitions and has participated at three Paralympic Games. He is a double Parapan American Games champion and a World champion in the 4 x 100 metre relay.[1][2]

Erik Hightower
Personal information
Born (1986-04-06) 6 April 1986
Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Sport
Country United States
SportParalympic athletics
DisabilitySpina bifida
Disability classT54
Coached byJoaquim Cruz
Medal record
Paralympic athletics
Representing  United States
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2019 DubaiUniversal 4x100m relay
Silver medal – second place2006 Assen4x100m relay T53-54
Parapan American Games
Gold medal – first place2011 Guadalajara100m T54
Gold medal – first place2019 LimaUniversal 4x100m relay
Silver medal – second place2011 Guadalajara200m T54
Silver medal – second place2015 Toronto400m T54
Silver medal – second place2019 Lima100m T54
Silver medal – second place2019 Lima400m T54
Bronze medal – third place2007 Rio de Janeiro200m T54
Bronze medal – third place2011 Guadalajara400m T54

Theft of wheelchair

In June 2014, Hightower's custom made $5,000 racing wheelchair was stolen from his cousin's truck in Anderson Township, Ohio. He had visited the Mercy Anderson Hospital to visit someone and then an hour later, he noticed that his chair had gone missing which he only had bought two months ago. He and his family were confused on why the perpetrator would steal his wheelchair that was "useless for anybody else", he had a theory that the culprit could be stealing his wheelchair to collect scrap metal and he contacted local scrap metal businesses to warn about his stolen wheelchair and reported the theft to the police. Hightower also asked for the CCTV footage of the hospital's car park but there was no camera coverage of the car park where his cousin's truck was parked.[3]

His wheelchair was later recovered a week later when it was found in a baseball field in New Richmond.[4]

References
  1. "Erik Hightower - IPC Athlete Bio". ipc.infostradasports.com. 12 November 2021.
  2. "Erik Hightower - Team USA". Team USA. 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on May 16, 2021.
  3. "Racing wheelchair stolen from Paralympic athlete". Fox 19. 1 July 2014.
  4. "Paralympian's stolen $5k wheelchair recovered". cincinnati.com. 8 July 2014.
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