Special Father’s Day for Paralympian Dad and Sailor Chris Weggemann

Chris Weggemann is celebrating his daughter Mallory’s return to the Paralympics and her impact on the world with a new hobby. 

“Everybody always ask about that,” Chris Weggemann sighed.

I had just asked the Dad of Paralympian Mallory Weggemann a question he has heard over and over again- what he remembered from January 21, 2008-  the day he brought his teenage daughter to the hospital for an epidural injection.  Mallory walked in, but would not walk out. The injection left her a paraplegic with no movement from her abdomen down.

It also left a father dealing with a mountain of guilt.

“Our job as a parent is to protect our kids,” Weggemann said. “Obviously I didn’t do a very good job that day because she (Mallory) ended up being paralyzed. There is a piece even though we are all these years later, there is a piece of it, if I would have just said stop. We are leaving, we are done with this game, we are not doing this anymore. Where we would be right now, right?”

Life would be different for the Weggemann family, but it would not be nearly as impactful.

Mallory Weggeman is now a three-time Paralympian. She won both gold and bronze medals at the 2012 London Olympics. The gold medal was an epic come from behind performance in the 50m Freestyle that underlines the never give up spirit Mallory lives with. 

Mallory returned to the Paralympics in 2016 despite added challenges. A fall in the shower of a hotel room caused permanent nerve damage to her left arm. There would be no medals in 2016, but still a spot on the team. Mallory kept moving forward and will try to get that medal later this summer in Tokyo. She has impressed once again at the time trials finishing first in a number of swims.

But Mallory’s biggest impact is outside the pool. She is a powerful motivational speaker, an ardent advocate for people living with disabilities. Her book Limitless: The Power of Hope and Resilience to Overcome sits on book shelves showing Mallory in her wheel chair- a picture her father took.

Mallory is the embodiment of someone who has made the absolute most of her circumstances  inspiring others along the way.

Including her father.

“Thats the stuff that I am most proud of,” Chris said. “You can’t become what you don’t see. She was very focused in terms of making sure that this book cover showed a path forward for someone. Love the swimming, don’t get me wrong on that. It’s what she does outside the pool that I’m most proud of.”

It was not as easy for Chris to move forward after the accident. Mallory was back in the pool figuring out her new life three months later. Dad was dealing with guilt that continues at least somewhat to this day.

“It was a long process,” Chris said.  “Around the time that Mallory was paralyzed J was pretty hot and heavy into mountaineering. I had a climb to China planned. When she got paralyzed I pulled out of that and refunded my trip that I was going to do that spring. At the same time, I’m also an avid runner. I stopped running for years. I didn’t run very much because you feel kinda guilt- here I am going out for a run and Mal can’t run.”

Chris is back running his six miles per day these days. He also recently made a unique purchase he had wanted for a long time- a sailboat. The Great Lakes have a new visitor covering over 800 miles this summer including a special guest.

“She (Mallory) has been on it once,” Chris said. “I’m not a great sailor. If we got some rough weather she doesn’t have any core, she can’t stop herself from going forward but five, six years ago, I wouldn’t have gotten a sailboat because we couldn’t all do it. Finally, this fall, it was my covid purchase. My wife and I decided we are getting a sailboat.”

Chris has always been an incredibly positive person outwardly. His reputation at his Environmental Resource Management job is someone who is always having a great day. The outside demeanor is now more closely resembled on the inside.

“As Mallory says, you can’t change what happened you can only live with what did happen and move forward,” Chris said. “If I look at where we were in January of 2008 to where we are today, it’s been a heck of a journey. What’s going to happen from 32 to 42, from 42 to 52? There is a lot of this story that has yet to play out.”

Mallory’s place in the public eye will continue after her swim days are over. She and her husband Jeremy are also planning to try and have children at some point after the Tokyo Paralympics. Chris would become a first time grandparent.

“I cannot wait, that is going to be the coolest thing,” Chris said. “I think we will have the opportunity to be more active grandparents because she will need a little help. We certainly won’t complain about that. We will use it as an opportunity to spend more time.”

Next up though is Tokyo 2021. The Paralympics have provided many many memories with one in particular standing out.

“When they award the medal the flag goes up they are playing the national anthem on her behalf that is probably the most emotional part,” Chris said. “As a parent it gives you goosebumps, it’s just incredible. When you hear the national anthem after that it gives a little different meaning to it cause you remember that time.”

Sounds like something fun to think about on a run or an afternoon sail.