Not to be confused with Dennis Conner.

Dennis Connors (born May 22, 1985) is an American para-cyclist and para-climber. He has won multiple national and international medals in para-cycling, including a silver medal at the 2024 Summer Paralympics. In addition to cycling, he is a three-time USA Climbing Para National Champion.[4]

Career

Para-cycling

Connors made his international debut for the United States at the 2021 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships and won a bronze medal in the road race T2 event.[5] He again represented the United States at the 2022 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships and won a silver medal in the road race T2 event.[6]

In August 2023, he represented the United States at the 2023 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships and won a gold medal in the road race T2 event.[7][8] In November 2023, he represented the United States at the 2023 Parapan American Games and won a gold medal in the road race T1–2 and a silver medal in the mixed road time trial T1–2 event.[9][10]

Dennis Connors at the 2024 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships.

2024 Summer Paralympics

On July 8, 2024, Connors qualified to represent the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics.[11] [12]

In September 2024, Connors represented the United States at the 2024 Summer Paralympics in Paris. He competed in the men’s road race T1–2 event and won the silver medal.[13]

Dennis Connors' epic sprint finish earns silver in debut Paralympic performance.

Para-climbing

In addition to his success in para-cycling, Connors is an accomplished para-climber. He has competed in multiple national championships and international competitions in the Men’s RP2 category, which includes athletes with impairments affecting two limbs.

In March 2025, he won his third USA Climbing Para National Championship, securing a spot on the U.S. National Para-Climbing Team. His victory qualified him to represent Team USA at the 2025 Paraclimbing World Cups and the 2025 Combined Able-bodied and Para World Championship in Seoul], South Korea. [4]

Public speaking

On January 28, 2025, TEDx Portland announced that Connors would be a featured speaker at TEDxPortland Year 13 on April 26, 2025, at Keller Auditorium.[14][15][16]

His talk will focus on perseverance and overcoming adversity through sports. Connors, who served nine years in the U.S. Marine Corps, sustained multiple traumatic brain injuries and suffered a stroke in 2020 that partially paralyzed his left side. Despite these setbacks, he became a Paralympic silver medalist, Paracycling world champion, and Paraclimbing national champion.[14]

Personal life

Connors was a member of the United States Marine Corps as a linguist from 2003 to 2012.[1] He served three deployments to Iraq, and sustained multiple traumatic brain injuries causing ataxia. In 2020, he suffered a stroke, which reduced the mobility in his left side.[17][18][19]

References

  1. ^ a b "Dennis Connors". Paris 2024 Paralympics. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  2. ^ "Winners of the 2022 USA Paraclimbing Nationals". Yahoo Sports. 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  3. ^ "USA Climbing National Championships Results". USA Climbing. 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Dennis Connors Wins His Third USA Climbing Para Climbing National Title". The Feed. March 2025. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  5. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (June 11, 2021). "Plat hammers home dominance on golden day for Dutch and Italians". uci.org. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  6. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (July 21, 2022). "World Championships team named as U.S. Paralympics Cycling prepares for road Para-cycling season finale". usparacycling.org. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  7. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (June 26, 2023). "Twenty-two road cyclists set to represent U.S. at 2023 Para-Cycling World Championships". usparacycling.org. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  8. ^ Blanco, Annemarie (August 11, 2023). "Connors, Masters Strike Gold on First Day of Road Races". usparacycling.org. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  9. ^ Ledermann, Heidi (November 26, 2023). "Team USA closes out the Parapan American Games with podium sweep and five additional medals". usparacycling.org. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  10. ^ Bowker, Paul D. (November 18, 2023). "Parapan American Games Shape Up As Paris 2024 Rehearsal for U.S. Cyclists". usparacycling.org. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  11. ^ Gowdy, Kristen (July 8, 2024). "Thirteen Cyclists Selected to Represent Team USA at the 2024 Paralympic Games". usparacycling.org. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  12. ^ Anderson, Luisa (August 27, 2024). "Here are the Oregon athletes competing in the 2024 Paralympic Games". KGW. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  13. ^ "Dennis Connors Claims Silver in the Men's Road Race T1-2 at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games". Team USA. September 2024. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  14. ^ a b "TEDxPortland Year 13 Speaker Lineup". TEDxPortland. January 28, 2025. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  15. ^ "Dennis Connors – TEDxPortland Speaker Announcement". Instagram. January 28, 2025. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  16. ^ "Dennis Connors Announced as TEDxPortland Speaker". Facebook. January 28, 2025. Retrieved March 10, 2025.
  17. ^ "Dennis Connors". teamusa.com. August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  18. ^ Connell, Jordan (June 13, 2024). "'You just have to adapt': U.S. veteran Dennis Connors reflects on his journey". binghamtonhomepage.com. WBGH-CD. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  19. ^ Evanson, Wade (July 30, 2024). "Beaverton's Dennis Connors has turned tragedy into triumph in his life beyond the armed forces". News-Times. Retrieved August 27, 2024.


Allikas: Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Connors
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