Russellville native qualifies for Team USA in Paralympic Games

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – An Arkansas native is on her way to represent the U.S. at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games.

Russellville native and Arkansas Tech University graduate Kaitlin Bounds will compete as a distance runner on the Team USA Paralympic track and field team in Paris from Aug. 28 – Sept. 8.

Bounds, along with 53 other athletes, earned a spot on the team during the trials in Florida last week. The ATU graduate is the only Arkansan to earn a place on the Team USA Paralympic track and field team for Paris 2024.

“We are so proud of each and every one of these athletes,” Sherrice Fox, director of U.S. Paralympics track and field, said. “Each one of them has proven themselves to be among the best in the world, and we can’t wait to see them at their best in Paris.”

The U.S. Paralympics provides an opportunity for athletes with disabilities to compete, including Bounds who was diagnosed with autism at age 4.

She was a member of the Arkansas Tech cross country program and was named All-Gulf South Conference in 2010.

Bounds was also a member of Team USA at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships track and field competition and the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships track and field competition.

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