THE BEGINNING

At 24 yrs old Dick lost his right leg above the knee in a car accident. He was a successful businessman, after his accident he became sedentary. As an avid athlete, he was determined to get back in shape, so he joined the YMCA in NYC and found his passion for running and he couldn’t stop. In 1976, Dick was the first disabled athlete to complete a marathon on a prosthetic leg at the New York City Marathon. A grueling race for him but there is where he made history.

In 1983, Dick founded and was the President and CEO of a running group, Achilles Track Club. Its reach expanded internationally over time to form Achilles International. An organization that inspires other disabled athletes to participate in mainstream sports. In 2019, Dick retired from Achilles but he was still ready to go and became President of United States Wheelchair Sports Fund to continue his mission to empower disabled athletes.

Dick continued to inspire as President of United States Wheelchair Sports Fund. He carried on to complete over 70 marathons on a hand cycle, most recently the 2023 NYC Marathon. He is a published author of three books, “A Victory for Humanity”, "Go Achilles" and “The Courage to Go Forward”. Sadly, on January 23, 2024, at 83 years old Dick Traum passed away in Manhattan. He leaves an everlasting legacy. He has touched and changed the lives of many around the world. He is “The Great One”, an unforgettable force and a legend to so many.

We will remember and honor him forever.