What I Like.... With Paralympic Games Medalist Amanda McGrory

McGrory Won Four Medals At Paralympics Last Summer

In our continuing series, SportsBusiness Daily/SportsBusiness Journal asks top sports personalities for their thoughts, ideas, aspirations and likes. Today Paralympian AMANDA MCGRORY, who won four medals last summer in Beijing in her first appearance in the Paralympic Games. McGrory: "The way the sound came down to the track at the Bird's Nest made it seem like the fans were competing with you."

What I like -- an influential person in my career: ADAM BLEAKNEY, the coach of the Univ. of Illinois wheelchair track and road-racing team.

An out-of-the-box idea: The possibility of pursuing a career as a professional wheelchair athlete.

A timeless idea: Finding something you love and making it work.

A business decision: Visa and The Hartford's support of Paralympians.

A strategy: Finding the unconventional and making it appeal to the masses.

A brand: Nike.

A trend: Youth fitness and taking on childhood obesity.

A business decision: NBC deciding to package the Paralympics and tell the stories of the athletes through their eyes ... although live TV would be nice, too.

A pro league or team business initiative: I love hockey, so I'll say the NHL.

A decision-maker: BARACK OBAMA.

A story that bears watching: Sports philanthropy.

A fantasy job: Traveling around the world racing marathons. I can't imagine anything better.
 
What I like about being a student: Learning new things and meeting new people.

McGrory (r) Relishes Challenge Of Rising Level Of Competition In Her Sport

My sport: The rising level of competition. World records keep falling, and women keep getting faster. I like the challenge.

Sports: The competition, especially in individual sports.

Sports business: The global opportunities to enlarge brands and find people who are willing to invest in an emotional achievement.

Sports media: Information is there for all 24/7, even for lesser-tier sports. You can follow anything through blogs these days.

Pro sports: Mostly the idea of making a career out of a sport.

College sports: The opportunities given to athletes to get a quality education and mature as people and friends.

Competing: What's not to like? The excitement, the challenge, the possibility of success, the culmination of so much work and training.

The future of sports business: More global, more niche, more embracing of technology.

Sports fans: Their unconditional support of their favorite athletes. Through wins and losses, fans always stay with their favorite teams and players.

What I would like to change: The view of people with disabilities. It's come a long way, but there's still a long way to go.

Change about my sport: Increased participation and access to equipment. Racing wheelchairs and traveling are expensive, and that turns away many potential athletes.

See more of: Brands investing for the long term and leading the way out of the recession.

See more of in my sport: Increased visibility, especially television coverage.

See less of in my sport: Confusion that those who compete are not true athletes.

What I don't like in general: Mayonnaise.

Pet peeve: Ignorance. Ignorant people. The reinforcement of stereotypes.

In sports: Athletes who don't take their sport seriously -- especially in wheelchair athletics.

In my sport: The lack of awareness and respect from the general public.

About pro sports: The jaded attitudes portrayed by some athletes.

About college sports: The time it takes away from the ability to be part of the mainstream student population.

In sports business: Short-term decisions based on emotion.

In media: How important stories are often overlooked in favor of the same topics or latest scandals.

In sports journalism: Overhyped failure, underpromoted success.

About sports fans: How many have a tendency to scream and yell and criticize their favorite teams through the television? They can't hear you.

What I like in people: Altruism. It's refreshing.

About myself: My creativity, organization and decisiveness.

Player: TIM DUNCAN. It's all about the fundamentals.

Teams: I'm a big Illinois basketball fan ... and my family has Philadelphia Flyers season tickets.

City: New York. I love it -- great food, great shopping, fantastic people-watching.

Time of year: The beginning of spring. Going for a long push outside after being pent-up indoors all winter is refreshing.

Music: I have a weakness for anything with a catchy tune. I love indie pop.

Book: "The Fountainhead."

Authors: AYN RAND, SALMAN RUSHDIE, VLADIMIR NABOKOV, KURT VONNEGUT ... I could go on for days.

Magazines: I subscribe to the Smithsonian, Real Simple and Harper's Bazaar.

Gadget: The Nintendo DS. It helped me survive the flight to Beijing and numerous road trips.

Chores: I enjoy doing laundry. I find most cleaning to be very relaxing.

Hobby: Cooking. It's productive and the end result is usually satisfying.

Trips: Nearly everywhere I travel is for competition, but my favorite place to compete is Switzerland. It's beautiful, like something out of a fairy tale.

TV: I'm hooked on "Freaks and Geeks."

Concerts: Small venues, and performances that are full of energy.

Artists: All of the surrealists, especially JOAN MIRO. It's an interesting perspective on the world.

Drink: Whiskey sours. My family makes fun of me every time I order one.
Apparently it's an old-lady beverage.

Scents: Grapefruit and basil. They both smell like summer to me.

Vacation spot: My family's condo in Ocean City, Maryland. The view of the ocean is amazing.

Car: I've always wanted an army-green Jeep Wrangler.

Aftershave: Am I qualified to answer this? John Varvatos. It brings back good memories.

Quote: "We are what we pretend to be" -- Kurt Vonnegut.

Miscellaneous: I enjoy being an athlete, not a wheelchair athlete.