The Deaflympics, an international multi-sport event for athletes with hearing loss, has a rich history:
- The first Deaflympics, originally called the International Silent Games, were held in Paris in 1924. Since then, they have occurred every four years, except during World War II. The first non-European Deaflympics were hosted in Washington, D.C., in 1965. The Winter Deaflympics were introduced in 1949.
- The games were officially named the “International Games for the Deaf” until 1965, then the “World Games for the Deaf” until 1999. In 2001, they were renamed the Deaflympics.
- The Deaflympics are governed by the International Committee of Sports for the Deaf (ICSD). Only deaf individuals may serve on the ICSD board, executive bodies, or as voting delegates at the ICSD Congress.
- The United States has participated in the Deaflympics since 1935 and currently ranks first in the all-time medal count, having won over 1,000 medals—the only nation to reach this milestone.
- The U.S. has been competing in the Winter Deaflympics since 1967.
WPSD Alumni in the Deaflympics and U.S. Deaf Team
Several alumni from the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf (WPSD) have represented the United States in the Deaflympics and other international competitions:
- 1961 – World Games for the Deaf (WGD) in Helsinki, Finland
- Jack Antal (1960) and Michael Dorrell (1957) played basketball and won the gold medal.
- 1965 – WGD in Washington, D.C.
- Michael Dorrell played basketball and won gold.
- Jack Antal and Dick Friend (1960) played soccer, but the team did not win a medal. Following this event, U.S. officials decided to discontinue the national Deaf soccer team due to the high level of international competition.
- 1969 – WGD in Belgrade, Yugoslavia
- Jack Antal played basketball and won gold.
- Joe Michiline (1967) won gold in pole vault, setting a record (4.00 meters = 13 ft. 1.25 inches.)
- Chalmer Black (1969) competed in the 400m hurdles but did not medal.
- 1975 – Pan American Games for the Deaf in Maracaibo, Venezuela
- Joe Michiline won a silver medal in pole vault.
- 1980 – Western Hemisphere Soccer Playoffs in Mexico City
- Wes Hawkins (1978), Stephen Rute (1974) and Allen Talbert (1972) played for the U.S. soccer team.
- The team secured it first-ever international victory against Australia but finished as runner-up to Mexico.
- 1981 – WGD in Cologne, West Germany
- Robert Cline, Jr. (1980) completed in the 200m but did not medal; however, he won gold in the 400m relay.
- Joe Michiline did not medal in pole vault.
- WPSD high school sophomore Darrin Majocha (1983) played water polo but did not place.
- 1985 – WGD in Los Angeles, California
- Wes Hawkins and Stephen Rute played soccer. The U.S. team won two matches and lost two, finishing in fifth place. This marked a significant improvement for the U.S. soccer program.
- David Tajc (1978) completed in volleyball but did not medal.
- 1989 – WGD in Christchurch, New Zealand
- Tamara Majocha (1986) played volleyball and won a silver medal.
- 1993 – WGD in Sofia, Bulgaria
- Tamara Majocha won the gold in volleyball.
- Wendy McCulley (1991) competed in the 3000m race but did not medal.
- Daniel Sheppeck (1991) played soccer, and the team placed eighth.
These WPSD alumni have proudly represented the U.S. on the international stage, contributing to the legacy of excellence in Deaf sports.
This post is written by Stephen Rute, Class of 1974.