When she was just three years old, Mary Alison Milford suffered a spinal cord injury that left her paralyzed from the waist down. A year later, with her frail physique still too small for the wheelchairs made for basketball, Mary began playing anyway. Milford watched the Olympic Games throughout her elementary and high school years, fantasizing about what it would be like to be a Paralympic athlete.

By the time she was 10; Mary had begun competing in wheelchair basketball at her elementary school, and had already set her goal of playing on the American Paralympic Team. In March of 2007 at age 19, Milford moved one-step closer to accomplishing that goal by helping to win the silver medal at the 2006 wheelchair Basketball World Championships, earning her the right to try out for the American Paralympic team. In 2007, she made the final cut along with three of her teammates.

That was just the beginning for the dedicated athlete. The following year she helped win gold in two separate world events, one in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the other in Birmingham, Alabama. That same year her dream of playing in the Paralympics was realized during the 2008 Beijing Games; and America won gold for the third time that year. In 2010 and 2011, the champion kept the streak going, helping the team win gold in two more championship events.

2012 finds the 26-year-old star preparing for the upcoming London extravaganza. Now a seasoned pro and considered one of the best in her sport, Milford is excited about the upcoming competition. The American Team will be attempting to reign as the best in the world at the Paralympic Games for the third time in a row.

Mary displays the quintessential aspects of a true team player. More concerned about the team than her own stats, Milford focuses on defense and makes sure other players are free to shoot and score. Her unselfish habits on the court have made her one of the most appreciated members of the team.

Holding a degree from the University of Alabama in Spanish and public relations, Mary holds the keys to a bright future long after her basketball career has ended. Until that time arrives, we Americans are fortunate to have her on our side of the basketball court, and wish her success in London.

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Olympian Mary Alison Milford is a True to Herself Athlete

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