Sandy Dukat

**Sandra "Sandy" Dukat** (born May 3, 1972) be American Paralympic athlete. Born plus proximal femoral focal deficiency, she get ein right leg amputated above de knee for de age of four. She compete internationally insyd alpine skiing, swimming den triathlon. As of February 2013, she dey hold de marathon world record for above-knee amputee women.

## Sporting career

Dukat grow up dey compete insyd able-bodied sports. She play basketball, high-jumped wey na she dey for ein high school swim team top. Wen na she bell de Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) dey look for amputee support group, she find out about dema sports teams. Na ebe then per wey she learn say Paralympic sport exist.

### Swimming

Insyd 1996, Dukat join de swim team for de RIC. Insyd 1997, she win 2 silver den 1 bronze medals for de USA National Championships, wey she win ein classification for de National 5K Disabled Open Water Invitational. Na dem name am to de US Disabled Swim Team insyd 1998. For de 1998 Disabled World Swimming Championships, she break de then S9 American record insyd de 800 metre freestyle event wey na she be co-captain of de US Team. She no, however, make finals for de meet.

### Skiing
Dukat first cam turn interested insyd skiing for 1997 insyd, after she attend de Disabled Sports USA Hartford Ski Spectacular. She start dey ski insyd de RIC Paralympic Sports Program, then she commit make she dey train 6 months of each year for de National Sports Center for the Disabled insyd Colorado. Dukat win two bronze medals for alpine skiing for de 2002 Winter Paralympics insyd Salt Lake City den one bronze medal for de 2006 Winter Paralympics insyd Turin. For de 2004 IPC Alpine Skiing World Championships, she win bronze medals insyd 3 events, downhill, Giant slalom den Super-G. She get success insyd de IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup, wey she achieve chaw podium finishes; insyd de 2003–2004 season, she fini fifth overall. 

Dukat retire from competitive skiing insyd 2007.

### Triathlon
Dukat turn to triathlon as way to keep am motivated den active during de skiing off-season.

Insyd 2003, she win de Physically Challenged division of de Olympic distance St Anthony's triathlon. Insyd 2004, na dem name am to de US Paralympic Triathlon Development Team. Na she dey for de USA Triathlon Physically Challenged National Team top insyd 2008.  

Dukat win de women's Above Knee division of de USA Triathlon Paratriathlon National Championships insyd 2007, 2008, 2009 den 2010. Insyd 2008, she represent de US for de ITU Triathlon World Championships insyd Vancouver. She cam turn 2008 World Champion insyd ein above knee impairment classification, wey dem name am 2008 USA Triathlon Paratriathlete of de Year.

### Running
She previously compete insyd 5K, 10K den half marathon races, Dukat run ein first marathon insyd January 2009. Na she be paced by training partner den below-knee amputee world record holder Amy Palmiero-Winters. Plus time of 4:40:46, na she be de first female above-knee amputee make she fini marathon for less dan 5 hours insyd.

## Ein life matter

Insyd 2007, na Dukat be one of five disabled female alpine skiers wey climb Mount Kilimanjaro as fundraiser, wey dem start scholarship program give disabled female alpine skiers for de National Sports Center for the Disabled insyd Colorado.

Dukat attend Wittenberg University insyd Springfield, Ohio. For number of years, she job an information specialist give de National Center on Physical Activity and Disability. She now dey job for The Hartford, wey dey liaise plus US Paralympics. Insyd dis role, she win de USOC ein Amazing Impact Award give The Hartford's 'Achieve Without Limits' campaign insyd 2011.

Insyd 2023, na dem induct am into de Wittenberg Athletics Hall of Honor.

## References


## External links

* Sandy Dukat at de International Paralympic Committee