Michael Paye

Sport: Wheelchair Basketball
Residence: Gissen, Germany

Michael Paye was born with a rare congenital disorder called arthrogryposis.  Arthrogryposis causes multiple joint contractures and is characterized by muscle weakness and fibrosis. It is a non-progressive disease.  Nonetheless, this did not stop Paye from growing up as an athlete.  At the age of 12, Paye started playing wheelchair basketball in a local adult league.  He eventually played for his college wheelchair basketball team and is now a member of the U.S. Wheelchair Basketball team.

Paye plans to graduate in 2008 from the University of Texas-Arlington with a major in criminal justice. He enjoyed being with his friends, watching football and other sporting events as well as working out and traveling.  He eventually would love to coach wheelchair basketball but for now, he is focusing on his own basketball career.

Paye is a member of the gold medal winning US Wheelchair Basketball Team at the Parapan American Games in 2007.  Paye is a member of the 2006 silver medal winning IWBF Gold Cup (World Championships) in Amsterdam.   Also in 2006, Paye was NWBA Collegiate Division Player of the year.  He was a member of the 2004 Paralympic Wheelchair Basketball Team.  Paye’s focus now is training in order to make the 2008 Paralympic wheelchair basketball team and compete at the Beijing Paralympic Games.

Working with U.S. Paralympics® founding sponsor, The Hartford, Michael is helping to raise public awareness of what people with a physical disability can achieve in all aspects of life.