Senior runner Aaron Holzmueller has had his eyes set on the Paralympics for a long time. With the Olympics in full swing and the Paralympics getting underway soon, it is fitting we revisit his story and an incredible accomplishment from the past track season.
 
Holzmueller is an inspiration to everyone who knows him. Competing in cross country and track and field with cerebral palsy, he continues to hone his skills and amaze his coaches here at Beloit College. There have been accolades along the way but Holzmueller's run in the 800-meters at a meet in Appleton, Wisconsin in May was one of the most exciting.
 
In that race, Holzmueller crossed the finished line with a time of 2:47.95 to break the USA Adaptive Track and Field national record for his age and classification by over a minute. Holzmueller recalled how the race felt and how he wasn't aware just how well it had gone until the bus ride home. "I remember feeling like I had gone out a bit too slowly in the first 300, so I tried to really pick it up for the final 500," said Holzmueller. "I heard my time right after the race so I knew it was a personal record, but I didn't really process how well it had gone until I was on the bus heading home."
 
The record is obviously an exciting accomplishment, however, not the first for Holzmueller. An avid runner since he was younger, Holzmueller set a national record in the 400 (U11 age group) that still stands today. That record is a special one for Holzmueller because the former record holder, Tommy Chasanoff, who competed internationally, is a role model for Holzmueller. He also holds a record in the 1500 in the under 17 age range set at Junior Nationals in 2015.
 
While times for all distances are kept by US and World Paralympic organizations, the Paralympic Games are slightly different than the Olympics in that not every distance is sponsored at the games for every disability classification. The International Paralympic Committee determines what events will be contested each Olympic cycle based on the number of elite athletes who run the particular event. As such, the games in Tokyo this cycle will not include the 800-meter run for the T36 classification in which Holzmueller competes. However, the 800 is on a short watch list which indicates there is a possibility it could be reinstated for Paris in 2024 which means Holzmueller's goal of competing in the Paralympics may still be (Within) in reach.
 
Despite the 800 not currently being sponsored in the Paralympics for his class, Holzmueller keeps working to improve his times and continues encouraging other athletes to keep running.
 
The journey hasn't been an easy one for Holzmueller. Also diagnosed with epilepsy, Holzmueller has had a number of medications throughout the years, some that seem to have affected his running. Following a switch between his freshman and sophomore years at Beloit, Holzmueller has been on the upswing. Despite the issues with medications, Holzmueller's work ethic has never faltered.
 
Former head cross country coach David Eckburg added that Holzmueller's progression has been steady, if not prolific, since his first year on campus. "Aaron has a willingness to go the extra mile," said Eckburg. "Rarely have I seen anyone in my long coaching tenure show so much improvement throughout a season. His recent middle-distance peak on the track places him at the top of age-related USA Adaptive times but I know from experience that Aaron equally enjoys the process of practice and acknowledges equal fulfillment with simply bettering himself on a regular basis."
 
Holzmueller credits coaches and staff at Beloit College for helping him on his journey. "I have really appreciated my coaches," noted Holzmueller. "I feel like they understand what I need and they ask me if they're not sure. I feel like they don't coddle me or treat me differently than my teammates, but they try to work me to the best of my ability." Holzmueller also indicated that his professors have been open an accommodating in the classroom while the team has allowed him to make really good friends along the way.
 
With one year left at Beloit College, the sociology major and political science minor noted he is looking forward to his senior year. "Outside of running, I'm really looking forward to taking a new class, The Sociology of Sports, with my advisor Charles Westerberg," said Holzmueller. "I'm really interested in issues of inclusion and equity, in sport and also in criminal justice systems." Hoping to venture into work in inclusion and equity following graduation, Holzmueller continues to inspire both as an athlete and a person.