AZ athlete nominated for Olympic Hall of Fame

CHANDLER, Ariz. - A Chandler athlete born without hands and feet has been nominated for the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.

Runner Tony Volpentest, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist, already has won 27 medals- 22 of them gold. They include the Olympic Committee President's Disabled Athletes Award and the U.S. Olympic Committee Athlete of the Year Award.

Volpentest, 36, said making it to the Hall of Fame would be the greatest honor of them all.

``In the world of sports, especially my sport ... that's the highest award,'' Volpentest said. ``I don't think there could be anything that could approach that.

``It's one of those types of honors that you like to imagine might happen,'' he added. ``It's mind-numbing.''

Volpentest has been running since his sophomore year of high school. After discovering a carbon-fiber prostethis for his feet, he was able to run competitively, winning gold in the 100, 200 and 400 meters at the World Championships at only 17.

``I was always comparing myself to 'able-body' people,'' Volpentest said. ``The (prostethis) allows your body to train at the level of a person with feet.''

Volpentest has been retired for almost eight years.

He said that he's excited about being nominated in the same year as Michael Jordan and the Dream Team, and his lifelong idol, Michael Johnson.

``This is an opportunity to drive home the message of what people with disabilities are capable of doing,'' Volpentest said.

The nominating committee, a 10-member group consisting of athletes, distinguished members of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame, media, historians and USOC representatives, selected the finalists, who were announced on April 16.

Voting ends on June 16 and the winners will be announced in July. Fans count for one-third of the voting, with media and current Olympians counting for the rest.