BETSY ALISON, USSailing.org
Who is Your Hero?Betsy Alison has dedicated her life to disabled sailing, and is the Paralympic Coach for the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider, and in 2011 was inducted into the US Sailing Hall of Fame. An amazing woman who has introduced many to the sport of sailing, she is incredibly supportive, encouraging and motivating, an inspiring sailor for all. The Paralympic teams have brought home Olympic medals under her coaching. Her focus is the development of national team athletes in the three Paralympic sailing events in preparation for the 2016 Games in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil and beyond. Betsy is a five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year and was inducted in the 2011 inaugural class of the National Sailing Hall of Fame. She was twice honored as USOC Coach of the Year 1999 and 2008. Betsy has brought newly injured veterans into the world of boating, sailing, competing, living.
How has your Nominees efforts made a difference for the better?
Betsy inspires and motivates many, who may otherwise not believe they could even get in a boat, to go way beyond their perceived limits and soar to new heights and abilities. She has helped to build bridges between those with disabilities and those who are able bodied, building a greater sense of community and understanding. Well liked and respected by those who have the privilege to know and work with her, Betsy is a strong and successful coach. The main image shown is of Betsy with with the late John Ross-Duggan, a double Bronze medalist from the Paralympics in Atlanta and Athens.
How will being recognized as a YachtWorld Hero further your nominee’s cause?
Recognition will help get the word out to many people about the work that Betsy and adaptive.ussailing.org is doing in the sport of disabled sailing. Building more understanding, inspiration and tolerance within a larger community, to see people as people, not as a person with a disability, will help our blue planet be a better place to live.
Please share any website or online articles about your nominee’s activities.
National Sailing Hall of Fame Inductee
http://fairplayinternational.org/cifp/fair-play-award-winners/2010/08/09/684#.UmABr1TD-ic
http://www.abilitymagazine.com/Paralympic-Sailing.html
http://www.sosgala.org/homepage/special-guest/
Betsy Allison was nominated by Debra Frenkel of Freedom Waters Foundation.
