Paris Paralympics 2024: Meet Roderick Townsend, Who Completed Paralympic Gold Hat-Trick

Paris Paralympics 2024 is churning out some great moments.  American Roderick Townsend won his third consecutive Paralympic gold medal in the men’s high jump T47 at the Paris Paralympic 2024. He had earlier claimed the top spot in Tokyo 2020 and Rio de Janeiro 2016. 

Townsend also has a gold medal from Rio and a silver medal from Tokyo in the long jump.

The 32-year-old now has four medals from the Paralympic Games, five world titles and a world record.

Roderick Townsend: The Natural Athlete 

Ten years ago, Townsend was not even aware of the Paralympic Games. Little did he know, he would go on to become one of the most successful athletes in the history of Paralympics. 

“I wasn’t aware of the Paralympic movement,” Townsend reflects now. “And it wasn’t until I was introduced to Paralympic sports that I really understood the value of embracing not just my differences, but how to effectively be the best me that I can possibly be.”

Roderick Townsend sustained permanent nerve damage to his right arm and shoulder at birth.  He has always been athletic since his younger days. He was part of the varsity football squad at his high school. Playing as team captain in 2009, he earned first-team honors in the San Jose Athletic Association.

He then made a transition into a successful track and field career in his college days. There has been no looking back for the American athlete since then.

Townsend was 21 years old when he was still competing against able-bodied athletes while at Boise State. It was in Tempe, Arizona, where Townsend’s Boise State Broncos were competing at a meet hosted by Arizona State University, that he competed against a  high jumper named Jeff Skiba, a four-time Paralympic medalist whose left leg had been amputated below the knee. 

The next evening, Townsend received a call from his coach as they talked about his prospects of playing in Paralympics. He has since become one of America’s great modern Paralympians.

En Route To Paris Paralympics 2024

At the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Townsend set a high jump world record (2.15 m) and won gold. He breached his own mark at the 2023 Paris World Championships with a 2.16-meter leap.

In the Tokyo games, Townsend broke the high jump record with a 2.15-meter jump before topping himself in the 2023 Paris World Championships with a 2.16-meter leap. 

Roderick Townsend won the long jump and high jump events at the 2016 Rio Paralympics and 2015 Parapan American Games.

In 2015, he registered two world records (2.07 and 2.12 m) and won the world title in the high jump event in his disability class. 

The California-born athlete cleared 2.14 m at the 2019 Mt. SAC Relays to take his world record over 7 feet.

Also Read: Morteza Mehrzadselakjani: Athlete Who Sleeps On Floor To Become Champion At Paris Paralympics 2024 

Townsend has a degree in communications from Boise State University and used to serve as an athletics coach at Northern Arizona University. He currently lives in Kentucky with his wife Tynita Butts.