Discus Thrower Leads U.S. Athletes into Paralympics

Scott Danberg, who served as U.S. flag bearer in the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, is one of 4,300 athletes with disabilities from 166 countries who will participate at the 2012 Paralympics. Danberg will compete as a discus thrower on September 4.

“You know, we’re little powerhouses in … a smaller body,” said discus thrower Scott Danberg, explaining the Dwarf Class in which he will compete in the London Paralympics.

Throwing the discus is not much different for him than it is for a person of average proportions. “You’re going to see the same movement patterns in the way I throw as you would in Olympic athletes,” he said.

At the opening ceremony of the 2012 Paralympic Games, the 227-member U.S. team was led by Danberg, chosen as U.S. flag bearer by fellow Team USA members.

Danberg, 50, is a five-time U.S. Paralympian who has competed in multiple events over the years, from powerlifting to javelin. A silver medalist in javelin at the Seoul Games in 1988, he is ranked Number 7 in the world by the International Paralympic Committee in the F40 men’s discus. As he told National Public Radio reporter Melissa Block, “The F stands for field, and 40 is the numerical number that they’ve given for the Dwarf category.” Danberg will compete on September 4.

These games are the biggest ever, featuring some 4,300 athletes with disabilities from all over the world, competing in more than 20 sports.