Katie Holloway celebrates at the Paralympic Games Rio 2016 on Sept. 12, 2019 in Rio de Janeiro.
LIMA, Peru – Sitting volleyball player Katie Holloway, a three-time Paralympic medalist, was selected today as the U.S. flag bearer for the Opening Ceremony of the Parapan American Games Lima 2019, to be held Aug. 23 in Lima, Peru, as announced by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. The three-time Paralympian was chosen to receive the honor by fellow Team USA members.
“I just feel really honored that the U.S. delegation of athletes saw me as a person that would be representative of them,” Holloway said. “To hold the flag, with honor, for our whole entire U.S. Paralympic delegation, is really special.”
Born with fibular hemimelia, Holloway’s right leg was amputated at 20 months old. She became the first female amputee to play NCAA Division I basketball at California State University – Northridge, where she also discovered sitting volleyball. She made her Paralympic Games debut in 2008 where she Team USA won a silver medal, followed by another silver in 2012. Holloway led the U.S. team to its first-ever Paralympic gold medal at the Paralympic Games Rio 2016.
She also helped Team USA win its first Parapan American Games title in women’s sitting volleyball at the Toronto 2015 edition, where the U.S. defeated Brazil in the gold-medal game.
In addition to being a two-time recipient of the Big West Conference’s Sixth Woman of the Year (2005-06, 2006-07), she was named the Women’s Sports Foundation Sportswoman of the Year in 2013 and USA Volleyball’s Female Sitting Athlete of the Year in 2011 and 2012.
The 2019 Parapan American Games will take place from Aug. 23-Sept. 1 in Lima, featuring more than 1,890 athletes from 33 nations participating in 17 sports and 18 disciplines. Team USA includes 257 athletes, including six guides and pilots, who will compete in 16 sports over the course of 10 days of competition.
Coverage of the 2019 U.S. Parapan American Team can be found at TeamUSA.org/Parapan2019 and on Team USA’s social channels (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter) featuring the hashtag #Lima2019. Additionally, visit TeamUSA.org/USADaily to sign up to receive the USA Daily, a digital news blast that provides Team USA results and highlights each night via email during the Games.
About U.S. Paralympics
U.S. Paralympics, a division of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, is dedicated to becoming the world leader in the Paralympic sports movement and to promoting excellence in the lives of all people with disabilities. Visit the U.S. Paralympics website at USParalympics.org.
