Jill

Kennedy

Jill Kennedy began competing in Paralympic sports as a powerlifter in 1995, through DAAA (Dwarf Athletic Association of America).  In 1998, she competed at the World Powerlifting Championships in the United Arab Emirates, and then went on to make the 2000 U.S. Paralympic Powerlifting team. 

After Sydney, a dwarf-only class, F40, was going to be introduced for the 2004 Athens Paralympic Games. Excited about competing against only other dwarves, Kennedy switched to throwing events - javelin, discus and shot put. In 2002, at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Lille, France, Kennedy medaled in the javelin and discus. She competed in all three throwing events in Athens, taking home bronze medals in discus and javelin.

Four years later, in Beijing, Kennedy participated as a track and field athlete for the second time, competing in women's discus F40 and the shot put F40.

Major Achievements:

• 2008: U.S. Paralympic Team member, Track & Field - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
• 2004: Bronze medal, discus and javelin - Paralympic Games, Athens, Greece
• 2002: Silver medal, Javelin, Bronze medal, discus - Athletics World Championships, Lille, France
• 2002: Fifth place, Powerlifting - Paralympic Games, Sydney, Australia
• 2000:  Member of the 2002 U.S. Paralympic Powerlifting Team
• DAAA (Dwarf Athletic Association of America) National Record Holder, discus and javelin:
• DAAA National Record Holder in Powerlifting, 40k class