August 20, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB student Mallerie Badgett, 19, of Oxford, Ala., will compete in the 2008 Paralympic Games Sept. 6-17 in Beijing. Badgett, a sophomore in the UAB School of Education, will compete in the 100- and 200-meter wheelchair track events. This will be her first trip to the Paralympics.

"It's overwhelming and exciting," she said. "I can't describe how excited I am. I'm also a little nervous. I don't know what to expect, but it is truly an honor and a privilege to compete for my country."

She first became interested in wheelchair racing at the age of 15. One of her first competitive races was at the 2004 Dixie Games in Warm Springs, Ga.

"I didn't win, but I had fun and learned a lot," Badgett said. "A lot of times I look at each competition as a learning experience. That is what I tell kids. You can only control what you're doing, so make yourself the best you can be. So I tend not to worry so much about placing as much as being the best that I can be. I've learned over the years that winning isn't everything, but when I was younger, I felt just like them, and I wanted to win all of the time."

Badgett qualified for the Paralympics by competing in the Paralympic time trials in Tempe, Ariz., in June. She came in 4th in the 100-meter and 3rd in 200-meter races. Her best times are 22.54 seconds in the 100-meter dash and 40.82 seconds in the 200-meter race, she said.

Because she will be in China when fall classes begin at UAB, Badgett says she will take her classes online. She credits her coaches, family and her instructors at UAB for supporting her and making it easier for her to be able to compete in the Games.