Paraplegic as the result of a farm accident at the age of 18 months, Blauwet began wheelchair racing after being recruited by her local high school track coach. After high school, she attended the University of Arizona where she received a degree in molecular biology and was a member of the university’s Wheelchair Track and Road Racing Team.
In 2004 having won the Los Angeles Marathon in March and the Boston Marathon in April, she went to the Athens Paralympics where she won the 800 metres gold medal and bronze medals in the 5,000 metres and the Marathon.
Founder of the International Institute for Disability Advocacy which provides scholarships to the University of Arizona to students with a disability from developing nations, she received the Paul Herne Leadership Award 2004, given by the American Association of People with Disabilities, which recognises individuals who display exceptional potential in areas of disability rights and equality.
A spokeswoman for US Paralympics, she speaks on behalf of the US Olympic Committee and sponsors. She was the keynote speaker at the Human Rights symposium, held at the Paralympic Games in Athens, last September. She was also the moderator for the Development Conference at the IPC General Assembly in Cairo in November 2004. She also volunteers her time and expertise as a coach to the San Jose junior wheelchair track team.
