2024 Celebration of Abilities Award Winners

Posted by: Mariah Wyckoff

In: Events, Press Releases

Celebrating Champions

The Challenged Athletes Foundation 2024 Celebration of Abilities Awards

CAF is proud to announce the 2024 Celebration of Abilities award recipients. It was a night of powerful and moving moments as CAF gathered to honor the remarkable individuals and partners who have played a pivotal role in advancing our mission.

We are very excited to honor the following amazing individuals:

Jim MacLaren Award: Dr. Bob Gailey

The Jim MacLaren Award, the most prestigious recognition, was awarded to Dr. Bob Gailey for his passionate dedication to CAF’s mission spanning three decades. This highest annual honor celebrates those whose contributions to the CAF mission have been truly exceptional. This year’s honoree, Dr. Bob Gailey, stands out for his remarkable 30-year journey with CAF, which has empowered athletes with physical disabilities worldwide.

For over 25 years, Dr. Bob Gailey has been a pioneering force in advancing lower limb amputee care and mobility. He created the One Step Ahead clinics, now a standard in helping amputees learn to walk with prosthetics, and developed the widely-used Amputee Mobility Predictor, which has enabled access to better prosthetic technology. Bob’s expertise has led him to educate healthcare providers worldwide and collaborate with the Department of Defense and VA to improve care for returning soldiers. With Össur and CAF, Bob’s clinics have empowered thousands of amputees globally, making a lasting impact on mobility and adaptive sports.

Exceptional Athlete Performance Award:
Ezra Frech & Grace Norman

An athlete who, through perseverance and exceptional athletic conditioning, has achieved extraordinary levels of success in sport.

Ezra Frech was born with congenital limb differences which led to the amputation of his leg above the knee at age 3. He received the CAF Rising Star award in 2010 and went on, with his father Clayton, to establish Angel City Sports in Los Angeles.

Ezra is a talented multisport athlete who began focusing on track events, debuting for Team USA at the 2021 Paralympics in Tokyo where he finished in 5th place in the high jump. Ezra returned to the world stage at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris where he won gold medals in the high jump and 100 m. He was recently recruited to USC to compete as a student-athlete in track and continues to be a disability rights advocate and emerging face of the 2028 Paralympics in Los Angeles.

Born with congenital amniotic band syndrome, Grace Norman had her left leg amputated below the knee and quickly settled into life as an active kid. By high school she was racing her peers on the cross country, track and swim teams. Along the way she picked up Para Track and Field and Paratriathlon, too.

Her breakout moment came at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, shortly after graduating from high school. As “the baby” in the inaugural Paralympic triathlon field, the 18-year-old Norman won the sport’s historic first gold medal in an upset. She also came home with a bronze medal from the 400-meter T44 event on the track. Grace went on to win Paratriathlon world titles in 2016 and 2017 and took home Silver at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. 

After winning a third world title in 2022, Norman went undefeated in 2023 and 2024 – most recently winning another Paralympic gold medal in the triathlon PTS5 division.

Trailblazer Award: Michael Andreasen

An athlete who has demonstrated courage, commitment and leadership – not just in their personal performance but in opening doors for others.

On October 26, 2024, Michael Andreason became the first person with dwarfism to complete the IRONMAN World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

A long-time para triathlete, it was hard for Michael to find a racing bike that best meet his needs as a high-performance competitor. In 2022, that all changed when he received a grant from CAF for a custom bike made specifically just for him.

“Receiving this bike was a game changer for me,” he says. “This bike gave me stand over height for the very first time. Knowing that every detail of my bike was designed for me was such a precious gift and will last me a lifetime. I am so thankful for it every time I go for a ride!” In the past few years Michael has lowered his Ironman 70.3 time at Oceanside from 8:11 in 2022, 8:03 in 2023 and then 7:35 in 2024. 

Unstoppable Award: Nicky Nieves

Given to an athlete who has overcome obstacles to achieve new heights in sports and sports mentorship.

Nicky Nieves was born with a congenital limb difference her left hand, but she never let that hold her back. She started playing volleyball in 6th grade, eventually becoming a standout collegiate student-athlete at Division II Queens College in New York. It was during that time that she learned about sitting volleyball and was recruited by USA Volleyball’s National Team Program.

Nicky went on to be an integral member of the Women’s National Sitting Team’s first gold medal at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio. She was named to the roster for the 2020 team but was diagnosed with COVID days before she was to depart for Tokyo and missed the games. It was a devastating turn of events, and Nicky dedicated herself physically and mentally to return in the 2024 Paralympics in Paris.

The team was triumphant, winning its third consecutive gold medal, and Nicky was honored to be named by the Team USA delegation as one of its opening ceremony flagbearers. Nicky is currently pursuing a master’s in clinical mental health and founded a nonprofit, Limitless People, in 2018. She shares her love of volleyball with people all over the U.S. and abroad. 

Sam Day Rising Star Award: Arelle Middleton

A youth athlete under the age of 16 who has demonstrated commitment, dedication and focus to meet an athletic goal.

Arelle first came to CAF back in 2020 to participate in the San Diego High School Adaptive Sports Program (HSASP). Through the HSASP, Arelle joined her high school track and field team and quickly progressed. Her steady improvement and numbers at the state championships made a great impression on the US Paralympic coaches and staff.

Arelle recently won a silver medal in Paris for shot put (F64) and was the youngest member of Team USA to medal at just the age of 16! “If it wasn’t for the Challenge Athletes Foundation High School Track and Field Program, I would not have known all that was possible in high school….. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Arelle could not have been on this path without all the work that the two of you have done.” Sandra, Arelle’s Mom.

Volunteer of the Year Award: Jack Burger

The Volunteer of the Year Award is given to the individual or individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to CAF through their generous gift of time and expertise.

Jack has not only been a fundraiser, participating in the Million Dollar Challenge cycling event as early as 2008 and bringing in over $124,000, his generous nature and support led to so much more.

He has been giving of his time, expertise, and his company’s assets. During both our 2021-2022 Building Refresh Project and now acting on our CAF Property Board, he took immediate action supporting our Director of Operations, soliciting bids, negotiating pricing, monitoring the work, and in the end, getting some of the work donated.

These were significant projects, and he played a huge role in making them successful.