Roderick Townsend, a native of Stockton and a former athlete at San Joaquin Delta College, has returned to his roots to prepare for his third Paralympic appearance. Townsend, who has already secured his place in Paralympic history with multiple medals, is training under the watchful eye of Lauryn Seales, his former track and cross country coach at Delta College.
"Lots of talent comes out of Stockton, and it’s even better when they come from Delta," Coach Seales remarked, proud of Townsend’s achievements and his representation of the USA on such an international stage.
Townsend’s journey into the world of track and field began unexpectedly. Originally a football player at Delta College, he had no interest in track until Coach Seales noticed his potential and encouraged him to explore it further, despite his reservations about using his right arm, which is impaired due to a birth injury. This injury damaged every nerve from his neck to his right shoulder, limiting motion and strength in his arm. Townsend competes in the T47 class, designated for athletes with arm impairments.
His track and field career took off spectacularly from there. At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Townsend clinched gold in both the long jump and the high jump. He continued his success at the Tokyo Paralympics, setting a new record in the high jump at 7’1” and winning a silver medal in the long jump.
As he prepares for the next Paralympics, Townsend is not just driven by personal ambition; he's also motivated by his family. His wife, who also competed in the Tokyo games, and their newborn baby are his new sources of inspiration. “Having done this so many times, it’s still what drives me to want to win. But even more so now,” Townsend shared. His goal is clear: “I want to be the reason nobody else gets to stand on top of that podium. I want to be the reason everybody has to hear the United States national anthem be played. I love that.”
Townsend’s story is not just one of athletic prowess but also of overcoming adversity and using personal challenges as a catalyst for success. As he gears up for another chance at Paralympic glory, his community and supporters in Stockton and beyond are rooting for his continued success.
