Peter Rieke

Age: 51 Disability: Parapalegic (Paralyzed from the waist down after a 1994 rock climbing accident) Atheletic Accomplishments: Climbed to the summits of Mount Rainier (14,411 ft.), Mount Hood (11,239 ft.), and Mt. Shasta (14,162 ft.) using only his arm strength and his custom built, human powered SnowPod.

Prior to the climbing accident that left him without the use of his legs, Peter had stood atop the impressive summit of Mount Rainier six times. While many felt his climbing career was over, Peter had other thoughts. After three years designing and building the human-arm-powered SnowPod (a hybrid between a bike/tractor with spiked snowmobile treads), he set off to reach the summit of Mount Rainier—and failed.

A second attempt also fell short, but on the third try, Rieke reached the fabled summit in the midst of a whiteout. The grueling climb took 10 days and his team weathered 4 days of tent shredding storms and high winds. When asked why he wanted to ascend the peak, he responded with a Mallory-like: “Because I can.” Since then, Peter has continued to climb in the Pacific Northwest and has led three other disabled climbers up Mt. Shasta

This is my third e-mail to the ITF concerning my photos of Mr. David Hall and Michael Jeremiasz. I see that a picture of Mr. Hall has been added to his profile. Would you be interested in using my photo of Michael for his profile, free of charge? I am in a chair and am trying to make a new carrer as a photographer. At the least please respond to my e-mail.

I don't know why they won't respond.

I think that this guy has b***s as big as his wheels.
Here is his page with many videos.

"The World Wheelchair and Amputee Games will be held in the city of Rio de Janeiro from 16th – 25th of September 2005, and will provide a range of sport specific opportunity from development to elite competition for physically disabled athletes. The major competition venue will be the Navy School and Miécimo da Silva Sports Complex.

The event which happens every two years on behalf of the International Wheelchair and Amputee Sports Federation (IWAS) will be organized by the the Brazilian Association of Sports in Wheelchair (ABRADECAR). Aiming at offering the best in terms of organization, the Organizing Committee (OC) of the games is comprised of major names involved in Olympic and Paralympic sports as well as well known event specialized promoters.Besides, the games will be supported by the Municipal, Sate and Federal Governments; which will guarantee an efficient and competent network aiming at organizing an event that has everything to become part both national and international Parasports history.

It is chasing that ideal that the OC of the World Wheelchair and Amputee Games – 2005, with the support of the U.N., shall promote a ceremony in favor of World Peace. Such tribute will take place on the 21st of September – the day the UN chose to be the Internationa Day of World Peace and also the day Brazil honors their disabled.

National and international celebrities are expected at the ceremony.We are absolutely sure of the success of these Games since besides the fact of being the second most important event in the Paralympics Movement, it will be supported and organized by important areas connected to the social work developed aiming at the inclusion of the disabled all over the world."

"Tribute To Peace" their website is here. I am searching the site for American "dis" abled athletes results and will post them with updates.

Javelin 600g Men's wheelchair. Final Result.
(10.) Ray Brown U.S.A. - Best Throw - 31.74

Shot Put 3/4 kg Women's wheelchair. Class F57/58

(10.) Jerry Braun U.S.A - Best - 3.93

R3 Air Rifle Prone

(3.) Bronze Medal! Robert Sheildis. U.S.A - Score - 590

6 days in - One third place. That's pretty damn competitive!

I am always looking for new and interesting ways to be a active "disabled" man. Over the past couple years I have done alot of travelling, Canada for two months (by myself,) Miami many times, Ft. Lauderdale many times, Biloxi Miss, New Orleans and other places. There are a great many wheelchair sports that I am interested in, but none have gotten my complete attention like sailing. The technology that is available was made and designed by Don Martin and his crew at their site.

The boat is called the Martin16 and this boat is perfect for people with disabilities to learn how to sail, or in my case, return to sailing,independently maybe. Here is a video .(67 megs) I am now living in Tampa, Florida and seeing as it is right on the water I shouldn't have too hard of a time finding a Yacht Club that offers lessons. Will update this as I find out more.

I took a few pictures of Michael Jeremaisz, the #2 ranked wheelchair tennis player in the world. Periodically I check on him and he won a big Italian tournament over the weekend. He is also the Paralympic Bronze in Athens. The pic is at the NASDAQ 100 in Miami Bch. Here is a great Italian wheelchair tennis site

Maria Sharapova's cute butt!

Last night I watched the ladies play, 2 matches, the 1st was Sharapova vs. Petrova, there were more breaks of serve in this match than lip-synched words at an Ashlee Simpson concert. Maria stormed out to a 4-0 lead in the 1st set then lost the next 4 games straight, the whole match was just like that, 7-5 1st, 4-6 2nd, 6-4 3rd. Great match overall,very competitive and I believe women's tennis to be far more entertaining than the men's game. Maybe it has something to do with this...