Judy

Chair never slowed her down
By Brandon Stahl, Fergus Falls Daily Journal

After she graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1979, Judy Siegle, who was an all-state basketball player, had plans to go on to Concordia and continue her passion of playing sports. But those plans abruptly changed when she was driving home from a wedding dance that summer and got into an accident with a drunk driver. Six months after she was released from the hospital, she was a quadriplegic, getting around her campus in a motorized wheelchair. For Siegle, exercise and sports were always a part of her life.
"After the accident, I thought my days in sports were done," she said. But 12 years later, Siegle's interest in athletics was renewed when she started playing Quad Rugby. "It's very physical. Bodies are just flying everywhere," said Siegle, who is medically considered an incomplete quadriplegic because she can use parts of her arms and hands. "I was thrilled to have the opportunity to play in sports again. I was out there doing the best I could with the muscle strength I had, and when you do that, that's what sports is all about," she said.
From there, Siegle became interested in other sports, including downhill skiing, canoeing, kayaking and wheelchair racing. She began competing in 10K races and got so good that she eventually broke four women's quadriplegic records in the 400, 800, 1,500 and 5,000 meter races. Now Siegle hopes to use her success overcoming adversity to be an inspiration for others with her new book, "Living Without Limits." Siegle, who gives motivational speeches as part of her community relations work for MeritCare Hospital in Fargo, said the book provides 10 keys for overcoming whatever challenges people have to face. "Often the game of life is different than we planned or imagined," Siegle said. "But the game does go on, and the game can still be good and full." For Siegle, whose book is available at www.judysiegle.com and can also be ordered at book stores, the challenge she was given of overcoming her injuries became an opportunity that took her around the world, allowing her to compete in the Atlanta and Sydney paralympic games as well in events in England and Mexico City. "Everybody has challenges of different sorts," she said. "But we have a choice as to how we will respond to those challenges."

Meet The Author Event
Local Author, Judy Siegle
Pelican Rapids Public Library, Saturday, October 8^t

10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Judy Siegle, two-time Paralympian, shares her story challenging readers to new perspectives in living life to the fullest. The tools she offers are very specific and each life principle is illustrated through Judy’s life story, which is woven throughout.

Living Without Limits
will provide 10 Keys to Unlocking the Champion in You!
Visit Judy's website at www.judysiegle.com
Open House: Book Signing
Copies of the book will be available for purchase.