Eva Houston

Eva Houston
Personal information
Born (2001-01-24) January 24, 2001 (age 23)[1]
Council Bluffs, Iowa, U.S.
Home townOmaha, Nebraska, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Sport
SportPara-athletics
DisabilityCerebral palsy
Disability classT34
EventWheelchair racing
Medal record
Para-athletics
Representing the  United States
Paralympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Paris 800 m T34
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2023 Paris 800 m T34

Eva Houston (born January 24, 2001) is an American T34 wheelchair racer.

Early life and education

Houston was born in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and raised in Omaha, Nebraska. She attended Westside High School in Omaha.[2] She played wheelchair basketball for seven years before transitioning to wheelchair racing at 15 years old, during her freshman year of high school.[3][4]

After high school, she attended the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she majored in natural resources and Environmental science.[4] She chose the University of Illinois due to their wheelchair racing team. In 2023 she competed in the inaugural national collegiate wheelchair championships at the Drake Relays.[5]

Career

On June 24, 2021, Houston was selected to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Paralympics.[6] She competed in the 100 metres and 800 metres T34 events.[7]

On May 21, 2023, she was selected to represent the United States at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships.[8] During her World Para Athletics Championships debut, she won a bronze medal in the 800 metres T34 event. She also competed in the 100 metres T34 and finished in fourth place with a personal best time of 19.28.[9]

In July 2024, during the U.S. Paralympic team trials, she qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[10][11]

Personal life

Houston was born with cerebral palsy.[12] Houston is queer.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Eva Houston". Paris 2024 Paralympics. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  2. ^ "Omaha woman headed to Paralympic Games in Tokyo". 3newsnow.com. July 23, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  3. ^ a b "How Wheelchair Racing Challenged My Relationship With My Disability". oiselle.com. December 15, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Eva Houston". teamusa.com. November 3, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  5. ^ Drumwright, Steve (April 27, 2023). "Eva Houston Is Relishing The Opportunity To Compete For A National Championship At The Drake Relays". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  6. ^ Lieberman, Stuart (June 24, 2021). "Meet The U.S. Paralympic Women's Track And Field Team For Tokyo". teamusa.com. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  7. ^ Haueter, Kylee (August 11, 2021). "Omaha native headed to Tokyo to compete in Paralympics". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  8. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (May 21, 2023). "Forty-Five Athletes Selected To Represent Team USA At 2023 World Para Athletics Championships". teamusa.org. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  9. ^ Drumwright, Steve (October 17, 2023). "Eva Houston Is As Confident As She's Ever Been". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (July 21, 2024). "Fifty-four Athletes Nominated to U.S. Paralympic Track & Field Team". usparatf.org. Retrieved August 21, 2024.
  11. ^ Reilly, Maeve (August 13, 2024). "Continuing success: Illinois wheelchair racers ready for the Paralympic Games". University of Illinois. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
  12. ^ "Dad pushes daughter's wheelchair on field to fulfill her marching band wish". Fox32chicago.com. November 12, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2024.