Hannah Pennington

Hannah was born with Cerebral Palsy, which affects the balance, flexibility, and strength in her lower abdomen and legs. Despite her disability and with the encouragement of her parents, sisters, therapists and doctors, she has always been active in athletics. Starting at age 6 and continuing throughout high school, she skied with the Children's Hospital Handicapped Sports Program through the National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD).

After graduation from High School, Pennington began racing at Fort Lewis College, an able-bodied team. She enjoyed it so much that in 1997, she moved back to Denver and began training full time in Winter Park with the NSCD competition program. In the spring of 2001, she qualified for the U.S. Disabled Ski Team and then for the 2002 Paralympic team. After the 2002 Salt Lake Paralympics she went on to compete in her second Paralympics in 2006. She says: "It is because of all the love and encouragement I receive that I am able to be a successful athlete. I’m especially thankful for support from my family, my friends, the NSCD and my sponsors like Scientific Atlanta, Rudy Project and Wells Fargo Bank, and CAF.”

Outside of skiing Pennington has competed in road cycling races, time trials and BMX bike races. When not cycling or skiing she can be found playing tennis, or on a hike around her home in Winter Park. She’s excited to train for Kilimanjaro because it will give her a reason to hike some of the Colorado fourteeners. You can check out Hannah's personal blog at http://racegirlusa.blogspot.com/