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Sailor earns bronze on last attempt, adds to Paralympic gold in 4x100 relay
By AMY McCULLOUGH Navy TimesFour years after making history as the first active-duty American military member to participate in the Paralympic Games, Casey Tibbsaccomplished another stunning achievement Sept. 16 when he won the bronze medal in the men's long jump after scratching on every jump but one.
Tibbs, a cryptologic technician (Interpretive) first class, almost left the event empty-handed. Instead, he made the one remaining jump count - measuring 6.39 meters and scoring 988 points.
"Coming here was so much larger than I thought it would be; it was a whole other level of competition, and everyone stepped it up," Tibbs said in a statement. "I will leave Beijing knowing that I tried my best."
But that's not all he will leave Beijing with. Tibbs also won a gold medal in the men's 4x100 relay, along with American teammates Jim Bob Bizzell, Brian Frasure and Jerome Singleton. The foursome broke the world record in that event, which the U.S. has held since 2006.
Tibbs, who works for Naval Medical Center San Diego's Morale, Welfare and Recreation program, competed in the men's 200 meters, long jump, 400 meters, 4x100-meter relay and pentathlon, according to the 2008 Paralympics Web site.
Tibbs lost his right leg below the knee in a 2001 motorcycle accident. After winning a silver medal in the pentathlon and gold in the relay in the 2004 Paralympic Games, he deployed for eight months to Afghanistan. In 2006, he won a gold medal at the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) Athletics World Championships in the pentathlon. And in 2007, he received the ESPY award for best male athlete with a physical disability.