Sports at Lunch, Marlon Shirley and Jeff Skiba

Paralympic world champions and world record holders Marlon Shirley and Jeff Skiba spoke at Sports at Lunch on Dec. 5 at the Hall of Champions. Shirley and Skiba train and live at the Olympic Training Center while competing around the world in Paralympic events. Both athletes are below-the-knee amputees.

Shirley, a sprinter, and Skiba, a high jumper, were both Stars of the Month in July when they set world records. Shirley was first honored by the Hall of Champions as the Challenged Athlete of the Year at the 60th annual Salute to the Champions dinner in 2006.

Shirley broke his own world record in the T44 100 meters with a time of 11.05 seconds at the Paralympics Championships in Marietta, Ga. Shirley later tied his world mark at the Parapan American Games with a gold medal in the 100 meters in 11.05 seconds.

Shirley, 29, was abandoned by his mother at age 3, lived with foster parents and lost his foot in a lawnmower accident. A high school football injury later resulted in more amputation higher up his leg.

Skiba broke his own world record in the F44 high jump with a leap of 6 feet, 10 ¾ inches at the Paralympics Championships in Marietta, Ga. In February, Skiba was the first Paralympic athlete to compete in the USA Track and Field Indoor National Championships against able-bodied athletes.