Cecil Township veteran brings home gold in Wheelchair Olympics
Five years had passed since Tom Strang participated in the annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games.
Strang, 84, of Cecil Township – and one of the oldest participants in this year’s games, held in Detroit in mid-July – has piled up medals since he started competing in the games in 1998, earning more than 100.
Unfortunately, a string of calamities – a house fire, bad falls suffered by both Strang and his wife, Agnes, who also had a bout with shingles – prevented Strang from taking part in the games since 2021. But in Detroit this summer, the U.S. Navy veteran picked up where he left off, winning two gold medals for fishing.
“I’ve been a bass fisherman all my life,” said Strang, an avid outdoorsman who also enjoys hunting. “I’ve been in a lot of bass tournaments hosted by the Paralyzed Veterans Association, and Agnes and I started a bass tournament sponsored by the Keystone PVA chapter and partnered with the Outcast Bass Club on the Mon River 24 years ago.”
The fishing competition for the 45th annual games took place at Belle Isle Park, along the Detroit River, which provides a stunning view of the Detroit skyline and Canada.
“We were on the bus to get to Belle Isle by 5:30 a.m, and it was four hours of fishing on the pier, which made for a very long day, but it was enjoyable,” said Strang. “I missed not being a part of the games. I’ve been doing them for almost 30 years, and it was good to get back.”
The multi-day event in mid-July, co-presented by the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Department of Veterans Affairs, included more than 500 veterans who competed in over 20 adaptive sports like wheelchair rugby, basketball, and field events. They were supported by around 3,000 volunteers and sponsors.
In all, six area veterans who receive care through the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System brought home 27 medals, including 11 gold from the games.
“The Wheelchair Games epitomizes the strength, courage and determination of our Veterans,” Dave Tostenrude, director of the National Veterans Wheelchair Games, said in a news release. “I’m excited for them to have this impactful experience as part of their health care journey.”
Strang, who served as a torpedo man aboard the diesel submarine USS Carp, worked as a construction electrician until he became a paraplegic after falling from the loft in his log home in 1990. After the accident, Strang battled depression for years, but a friend introduced him to adaptive games, and they reignited his love for life and gave him a purpose.
Strang, who also is heavily involved with the Keystone Paralyzed Veterans of America, has participated in games across the country, including Alaska, Florida, Salt Lake City, Louisville, New Orleans, and Puerto Rico. Over his decades of competing, he has won medals in air guns (air rifle), archery, bocce, fishing, track events (100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m), and the biathlon.
“I have been to so many places, and have had so many experiences and opportunities to meet other veterans through the games,” Strang said. “I do feel like a role model. When people see me, especially at my age, it encourages them, and it pushes me to keep going.”
He eats a healthy diet and exercises intensely every day, lifting weights and resistance bands to maintain upper body strength and improve his core, to prevent health complications. Being fit not only helps veterans excel at the games. Regular exercise helps them maintain body weight, sleep better, reduce anxiety and depression, make friends, and counter the stigma of disability.
“Every day I train my body to be able to do what I do. I do something exercise-wise every day. You have to be strong in order to do this,” he said, pushing himself up in his wheelchair. “I do rows, curls, use pulleys to raise my arms above my head.”
Strang credits Agnes for encouraging him to participate in the games.
“None of this would be possible without Agnes. She pushes me, tells me I can do it,” Strang said. “You’ve gotta find a purpose. It’s devastating, that first year when you get paralyzed, and you’re completely dependent on everybody. I found my purpose. We started volunteering and going on trips with Keystone Paralyzed Veterans Association. That puts a smile on our faces, and we have thousands o hours of volunteering with the paralyzed veterans.”
Strang is already looking ahead to next year’s games.
“I don’t know how long I can do this, but I’ll do it as Long as I can,” he said.