Ron Stein
Encyclopedia
Ronald Arthur "Ron" Stein (27 September 1937 – 16 February 2010) was an American athlete who competed at the inaugural Summer Paralympic Games
held in Rome in 1960.
throughout his life.
He attended O'Fallon Township High School
, from where he graduated in 1955. During his time at school he played basketball and baseball, and participated in track and field events. Following high school, Stein planned to begin workouts with the Chicago White Sox
, then continue his education at Northwestern University
.
While training with the White Sox, Stein became ill with polio; the disease left him requiring the use of a wheelchair. He entered a rehabilitation program at the University of Illinois in 1956 and became involved in competitive wheelchair sports, including basketball, athletics and football.
that travelled to Rome
, Italy, to take part in the 1960 Summer Paralympics
, the first ever Paralympic Games
. He competed in three individual athletics events and was also a part of the US wheelchair basketball
squad. Stein won gold medals in his three athletic events (club throw C, open pentathlon and shot put C. His wheelchair basketball team won a gold medal.
Stein also competed at the Tokyo
Paralympics in 1964
; he won six gold medals. In addition to defending the pentathlon, shot put and club throw titles he won in Rome, Stein set world records upon winning the javelin
, with a throw of 26.7 metres (87.6 ft), and the discus, with a distance of 36.98 metres (121.3 ft). He also took gold in the wheelchair dash below T10 event.
He was inducted into the Wheelchair Sports USA Hall of Fame in 1970 and the National Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.
1960 Summer Paralympics
The 1960 Summer Paralympics, originally known as the 9th Annual International Stoke Mandeville Games, were the first international Paralympic Games, following on from the Stoke Mandeville Games of 1948 and 1952. They were organised under the aegis of the International Stoke Mandeville Games...
held in Rome in 1960.
Early life
Stein, the only child of Arthur and Edith (née Goehler) Stein, was born on 27 September, 1937 in East St. Louis. He lived in O'Fallon, IllinoisO'Fallon, Illinois
O'Fallon is a city in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States, and one of the fastest-growing communities in the Metropolitan St. Louis area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 28,281. The city is the third largest city in the Metro-East and Southern Illinois...
throughout his life.
He attended O'Fallon Township High School
O'Fallon Township High School
O'Fallon Township High School is a public secondary school in O'Fallon, Illinois. In 2009, OTHS was ranked 49th out of the top 100 high schools in Illinois by the Chicago Sun Times.-History:...
, from where he graduated in 1955. During his time at school he played basketball and baseball, and participated in track and field events. Following high school, Stein planned to begin workouts with the Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
, then continue his education at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
.
While training with the White Sox, Stein became ill with polio; the disease left him requiring the use of a wheelchair. He entered a rehabilitation program at the University of Illinois in 1956 and became involved in competitive wheelchair sports, including basketball, athletics and football.
Paralympic Games
Stein was part of the United States teamUnited States at the 1960 Summer Paralympics
The United States competed at the 1960 Summer Paralympics in Rome, Italy.- Medalists :...
that travelled to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy, to take part in the 1960 Summer Paralympics
1960 Summer Paralympics
The 1960 Summer Paralympics, originally known as the 9th Annual International Stoke Mandeville Games, were the first international Paralympic Games, following on from the Stoke Mandeville Games of 1948 and 1952. They were organised under the aegis of the International Stoke Mandeville Games...
, the first ever Paralympic Games
Paralympic Games
The Paralympic Games are a major international multi-sport event where athletes with a physical disability compete; this includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. There are Winter and Summer Paralympic Games, which are held immediately following their...
. He competed in three individual athletics events and was also a part of the US wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball
Wheelchair basketball is basketball played by people in wheelchairs and is considered one of the major disabled sports practiced. The International Wheelchair Basketball Federation is the governing body for this sport. It is recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole...
squad. Stein won gold medals in his three athletic events (club throw C, open pentathlon and shot put C. His wheelchair basketball team won a gold medal.
Stein also competed at the Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
Paralympics in 1964
1964 Summer Paralympics
The 1964 Summer Paralympics, originally known as the 13th International Stoke Mandeville Games, were the 2nd Paralympic Games to be held. They were held in Tokyo, Japan, they were the last Summer Paralympics to take place in the same city as the Summer Olympics until the 1988 Summer Paralympics...
; he won six gold medals. In addition to defending the pentathlon, shot put and club throw titles he won in Rome, Stein set world records upon winning the javelin
Javelin throw
The javelin throw is a track and field athletics throwing event where the object to be thrown is the javelin, a spear approximately 2.5 metres in length. Javelin is an event of both the men's decathlon and the women's heptathlon...
, with a throw of 26.7 metres (87.6 ft), and the discus, with a distance of 36.98 metres (121.3 ft). He also took gold in the wheelchair dash below T10 event.
He was inducted into the Wheelchair Sports USA Hall of Fame in 1970 and the National Wheelchair Basketball Hall of Fame in 1982.