Tatyana McFadden’s time in Russia just got better.
After reuniting with her birth mother in Sochi, Russian-born McFadden won her first medal at the Winter Paralympics on Wednesday. McFadden won the silver medal in the cross-country one-kilometer sprint sitting event.
McFadden’s birth mother, the director of her former Russian orphanage, and her adoptive mother were there to witness McFadden’s most recent achievement.
The Paralympian only picked up skiing two years ago when Alana Nichols, the first U.S. woman to win gold medals in the Summer and Winter Paralympics, encouraged her to do so. McFadden previously participated in track and field, winning six medals over the course of three Summer Paralympics. McFadden actually made her place in history in 2013 when she became the first woman to win six gold medals at a single International Paralympic Committee Track and Field World Championship. 2013 continued to be McFadden’s year when she became the first person to achieve the wheelchair marathon “Grand Slam” – completing the Boston, London, Chicago and New York City marathons.
McFadden took to Twitter and Instagram to thank everyone who has supported her during her journey to Sochi and her ultimate win.
Thank you everyone for the wonderful support!!! Feeling truly thankful and blessed <3 http://t.co/5bKh5OypjN
— Tatyana McFadden (@TatyanaMcFadden) March 12, 2014
Many took to Twitter to congratulate McFadden on her silver medal.
HUGE congratulations to @TatyanaMcFadden who won a #paralympics SILVER today (& you didn't think you'd medal!?)
http://t.co/AnrBYU8R8n
— Kate Snow (@tvkatesnow) March 12, 2014
Congrats @TatyanaMcFadden on your first Winter Paralympics medal! #sprinter
— Kikkan Randall (@kikkanimal) March 12, 2014
Congrats to #illini grad Tatyana McFadden on her #Paralympic Winter Games silver medal! http://t.co/AvXkYtcoY2
— Chief Illiniwek (@chiefilliniwek) March 12, 2014
Way to go @TatyanaMcFadden on the 2nd place finish in the 1km Sprint Free event! #TeamUSA pic.twitter.com/gOzx3QXyvJ
— BP Team USA (@BPTeamUSA) March 12, 2014
Image via Tatyana McFadden, Instagram.
