James William Knaub (January 5, 1956 – November 17, 2024) was an American professional wheelchair marathon athlete.
Jim Knaub | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 5, 1956 Corona, California, U.S. |
| Died | November 17, 2024 (aged 68) Long Beach, California, U.S. |
| Known for | Wheelchair racing |
Background
editKnaub was born in Corona, California on January 5, 1956.[1] He died in Long Beach, California on November 17, 2024, at the age of 68.[2]
Sport
editKnaub was a pole vault competitor at Long Beach State and a semifinalist for the 1976 Olympics before a 1978 traffic accident left him paralyzed.[1] He went through rehabilitation at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, but did not regain the use of his legs.[3] After setting a wheelchair marathon world record at the 1982 Boston Marathon,[4] he went on to win four more times for a total of four world records,[5][6] and, along with female champion Candace Cable, "gave the 'wheelies' a personality in the 1980s and early 1990s".[7] In the 1990s he held "the world record in every race distance from 5,000 meters to the marathon."[8]
Other ventures
editKnaub joined Cannondale Bicycle Corporation in 1998 as production manager for the company's competition wheelchairs.[9]
Jim Knaub appeared as an actor in television (The A Team, The Fall Guy, The Love Boat S6 E7 as Arthur (1982), and others) and movies.
In 2013, it was reported that a film about Knaub's life, titled Hell on Wheels, was in development by Walt Disney Pictures.[10]
Accolades
edit- Lakewood, California Youth Hall of Fame, 1981[11]
- Long Beach State Hall of Fame, 1990[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Deirdre Donahue (June 25, 1984), "Weelchair Racers Jim Knaub and Candace Cable Are on a Roll as They Push Toward Their Olympic Debut", People
- ^ "james-knaub obituary". Retrieved November 24, 2024.
- ^ Patient stories: Jim Knaub - Rancho Los Amigos inspires the will to win, Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center, January 1, 2011, retrieved 2012-12-06
- ^ Wasef, Basem; Leno, Jay (2007), Legendary Motorcycles, Motorbooks International, p. 71, ISBN 978-0-7603-3070-8,
His creation turned out to be an esthetic and functional success that enabled Jim Knaub to win the Boston Marathon in 1982
- ^ Steve Kelley (September 10, 1993), "Knaub Races To End Injustice", The Seattle Times
- ^ "Knaub Wins in Record Time", The Los Angeles Times, April 16, 1991
- ^ "Push Rim Wheelchair Division History", 2012 Boston Marathon media guide, Boston Athletic Association and John Hancock Financial Services, 2012, archived from the original on 2013-01-29, retrieved 2012-12-06
- ^ Bob Sherwin (September 23, 1994), "Rolling Past Limitations -- Meeting Jim Knaub Five Years Ago Helped Amberly Austin Find The Drive To Overcome Her Limits. Now 13, She's A Top Junior Wheelchair Racer.", The Seattle Times, retrieved 2012-12-06
- ^ Claudia Coates (April 29, 1998), "New Entry in Wheelchair Business Is on a Roll", The Los Angeles Times
- ^ "HELL ON WHEELS (Walt Disney Pictures)", Movies & TV Dept., The New York Times, 2010, archived from the original on 2013-01-31, retrieved 2012-12-06
- ^ Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame, City of Lakewood, California, retrieved 2012-12-06
- ^ "Hall of Fame". Long Beach State Athletics official website. Retrieved 2012-12-06.