Paul

Moran

Paul Moran's life changed dramatically as a freshman at Boston College in 1985 when he was hit by a trolley in an accident resulting in the loss of his right leg and two fingers on his left hand.

Fifteen years to the day of the accident, Moran was entering the Olympic Stadium in Sydney, Australia. He had completed his time at Boston College, with degrees in English and philosophy, and was taking part in the Opening Ceremonies of his third Paralympic Games.

He was introduced to wheelchair tennis when a volleyball teammate took him to see the women's finals in Barcelona in 1992 and he started playing in 1994. Active in many sports over the years, he is most proud to be part of the two national champion wheelchair softball teams (2002, 2005) with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) Cubs. He hopes the team's sponsor in the major leagues will break their 100-year drought this year.

Moran retired from the U.S. Paralympics Men's Sitting Volleyball Team in 2005, one year after its best finish - sixth place in Athens. He decided to turn his focus to wheelchair tennis.  Having already won two singles titles in 2002, he made it to the finals of seven tournaments in 2007 and 2008. In Beijing, Moran competed in singles and doubles.

When he is not playing sports, Moran likes listening to live music, reading and writing. He is active in Chicago's bid for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, as he teaches at the A.C. Nielsen Tennis Center in Winnetka, Illinois, right outside of Chicago. Moran is one of seven children (three brothers, three sisters) and has nine nieces and nephews.

Major Achievements:

• 2008: U.S. Paralympic Team member, Wheelchair Tennis - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
• Four-time Paralympian in sitting volleyball (1992, 1996, 2000, 2004)
• 2008: Winner - McCann Memorial Wheelchair Championships, Muncie, Ind.
• 2008: Winner, doubles - Sacramento Capitals, Sacramento, Calif.
• 2008: Winner, second draw doubles - Cajun Classic, Baton Rouge, La.
• 2007: Winner, doubles; runner-up, singles - B.C. Open, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 2007: Winner, second draw doubles - Cajun Classic, Baton Rouge, La.
• 2003: Gold medal - Parapan American Games, Mar del Plata, Argentina (sitting volleyball)
• 2002: Winner, singles - Music City Classic, Nashville, Tenn.
• 2002: Winner, singles - Jana Hunsaker Memorial, New York, N.Y.

Paralympic Experience

• 4-time Paralympian;
• Paralympic Games Beijing 2008, 9th (Doubles - Men), 33th (Singles - Men)
• Paralympic Games Athens 2004, 6th (Team - Men)
• Paralympic Games Sydney 2000, 12th (Team - Men)
• Paralympic Games Atlanta 1996, 11th (Team - Men)