From The Magazine: Penn State in the Paralympics
March 7, 2014 at 12:39 pm Ryan Jones 1 comment
Most of the world’s attention has turned away from Sochi, but for thousands of world-class athletes, the games are just getting started. The 2014 Paralympic Winter Games kicked off Friday, and among the American medal hopefuls is a young skier with strong Penn State ties.
Staci Mannella (above, right) is a fearless 17-year-old from New Jersey who suffers from achromatopsia, a congenital eye condition that severely limits her visual acuity and leaves her extremely sensitive to light. As such, she can only ski with the help of a guide—and that’s where Kim Seevers ’86g comes in. A life-long skier, Seevers (above, left) works with the New York-based Adaptive Sports Foundation, which is how she was paired with Mannella. This month, they’ll be on the hill in Sochi together, Mannella sometimes just a few feet behind Seevers as they head downhill at speeds reaching 60 mph.
Alumni Association members can read more about this dynamic downhill duo on page 28 of our March/April issue. In the meantime, some bonus video: Here are Mannella and Seevers in an interview with MSG Network, and below, the trailer for Partially Sighted. Wicked Fast, a documentary that tracks their progress toward Sochi.
Here’s wishing Staci and Kim the best of luck this week.
Ryan Jones, senior editor
Entry filed under: The Penn Stater Magazine. Tags: Kim Seevers, March/April 2014, Paralympics, Sochi, Staci Mannella.
1. The Penn Stater Daily — March 10, 2014 | The Penn Stater Magazine | March 10, 2014 at 8:45 am
[…] downhill from here: You might have seen our post Friday on the U.S. Paralympic duo of visually impaired skier Staci Mannella and her guide, Kim Seevers […]