Cheryl Angelelli-Kornoelje is a retired American

para swimmer Para swimming is an adaptation of the sport of swimming for athletes with disabilities. Para swimmers compete at the Summer Paralympic Games and at other sports competitions throughout the world. The sport is governed by the International Paralym ...

, an Oakland University

bachelor's degree A bachelor's degree (from Middle Latin ''baccalaureus'') or baccalaureate (from Modern Latin ''baccalaureatus'') is an undergraduate academic degree awarded by colleges and universities upon completion of a course of study lasting three to six ...

's graduate and a

motivational speaker A motivational speaker is a speaker who makes speeches intended to motivate or inspire an audience. Such speakers may attempt to challenge or transform their audiences. The speech itself is popularly known as a pep talk. Motivational speakers ...

. She was inducted into the Michigan Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame in 2000, and she was named Female Amateur Athlete of the Year by the State of Michigan twice, once in 2000 and once in 2003.

Biography

When Angelelli was a teenager, she sustained a

spinal cord injury A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that causes temporary or permanent changes in its function. Symptoms may include loss of muscle function, sensation, or autonomic function in the parts of the body served by the spinal co ...

after breaking her neck from hitting her head on the bottom of the pool after diving off a starting block in 1983. She was practicing her start off the swimming block. She took up para swimming in 1998 in

Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at ...

. She created a documentary film titled ''

Untold Dreams Untold or The Untold may refer to: Film and TV *'' The Untold'', a 2002 American horror film * ''Untold'' (Netflix), a sports documentary film series * ''Untold'' (TV series), an American news program Music *Untold (festival), in Romania * Unt ...

'' to raise the awareness of the many abilities of disabled people and knowledge of the Paralympics as well as talking about her success in competitive swimming. Angelelli retired from swimming in 2013 and switched to wheelchair ballroom dancing.

References

1968 births Living people Sportspeople from Michigan Paralympic swimmers for the United States Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Paralympics Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Paralympics Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2004 Summer Paralympics Medalists at the 2008 Summer Paralympics Oakland University alumni People with tetraplegia Paralympic medalists in swimming Paralympic silver medalists for the United States Paralympic bronze medalists for the United States American female freestyle swimmers S4-classified para swimmers Medalists at the World Para Swimming Championships 21st-century American women {{DEFAULTSORT:Angelelli, Cheryl