Don't sell her short
Living with Dwarfism hasn't kept Miranda Uhl from setting more than a dozen American and world records in paralympic swimming. Now she's a freshman on the FAU swim team, competing on a Division I program while training for the 2012 World Paralympic Games.
Originally published on
11/7/2011
by
Chuck King
Despite setting an American record in the backstroke during her first national competition, Miranda Uhl didn't think she had a chance to become a member of Florida Atlantic's swim team.
Uhl, who stands 4-foot-2 and is living with Dwarfism, isn't a typical collegiate athlete. She is, however, an exceptional Paralympic athlete, as evidenced by the gold medal she won in the 2008 Paralympic Games in Bejing.
The number of American records Uhl holds currently reaches double figures.
A freshman at FAU, Uhl hoped to be able to workout alongside FAU's swimmers - training with them two or three times per week.
FAU coach Steve Eckelcamp wanted more of a commitment.
“I don't really buy into the part-time, come-when-you-want type thing,” Eckelcamp said. “Either you come out for the team and you do everything we are doing or you don't. Well, she was thrilled with that.”
Uhl is more than a dwarf on the swim team. The Bio/Pre-Med major participates in study halls and weightlifting sessions like the rest of her Owl teammates.
She's doing all this while preparing to compete in the 2012 Paralympic Games, which will be held next summer in London.
For now, though, Uhl's an Owl, and smiles profusely when she talks about being full member of FAU's swim team.
For more on Miranda Uhl and to see her compete in the Owls' first swim meet of the season, click on the video at the top left of this page.