Chapter Milestones: Houston

In 1976, Achilles International’s late founder Dick Traum made history as the first person with a prosthetic leg to complete the New York City Marathon, helping spark a movement that continues to redefine what’s possible for athletes with disabilities around the world.

As we approach the 50th anniversary of that historic finish, we’re celebrating the people, moments and milestones that have shaped Achilles along the way. Today, that movement spans 62 chapters worldwide, each with its own story to tell.

We asked members of the Achilles Houston community to reflect on the moments that have defined their chapter, the milestones they've celebrated, and what Achilles means to them. Read Chapter Leader Michaela Cueto's reflection below.

Michaela Cueto, Chapter Leader, Achilles Houston

My journey into adaptive sports started long before Achilles. I began with wheelchair tennis and always knew I wanted to build a career in adaptive sports. While I was in college, one of my professors told me about a job opening with Achilles, and the mission immediately sold me.

What makes Achilles special is simple: everyone is welcome.

When I'm tabling at conventions and explaining what we do, people sometimes ask me, "What's the catch?" But there isn't one. Achilles creates opportunities for people of all abilities and walks of life to participate entirely free of charge.

That's what continues to inspire me most about leading Achilles Houston. We get to do honest, meaningful work and make it accessible to anyone who wants to be part of it.

The story of Achilles Houston began in much the same way, with someone seeing Achilles in action and realizing that this community needed to exist in Houston.

In 2013, our founder, Bernie Tretta, was running the Houston Marathon when an Achilles athlete and guide passed her on the course. She was so amazed by the pair that she caught up with them to learn more.

After the race, Bernie reached out to the Achilles International office in New York and asked about bringing the organization to Houston. Achilles Houston was founded later that month, and our first documented group photo comes from our January 26, 2013 workout.

More than a decade later, the chapter has grown into a community offering something particularly unique within Houston's adaptive sports landscape.

Achilles Houston is the only adaptive sports nonprofit in the greater Houston area offering organized handcycling and tandem cycling workouts. While Houston has a strong adaptive sports community, access to these activities can be difficult. Handcycles and tandem bicycles are expensive, creating a significant barrier for people who want to participate.

By providing the equipment at no cost, Achilles helps close that gap.

Today, Houston has one of the largest collections of Achilles adaptive cycling equipment outside of the New York City chapter. That allows us to introduce more athletes to handcycling and tandem cycling without asking them to make a major financial investment just to get started.

But as proud as I am of the programs and equipment we've built, my favorite part of Achilles Houston is much simpler: the community.

Achilles feels like family every time you come to a workout. Everybody knows everybody. Every person who shows up is welcomed with open arms. Our workouts are filled with hugs, encouragement, laughter and an incredible sense of camaraderie.

I'm most proud that we've created a space where people feel like they belong.

It's not just a place to exercise. It's a place where athletes, guides, volunteers and families come together and support one another. I've watched friendships form, athletes accomplish things they once thought were impossible and members of our community consistently show up for each other.

On January 3, 2026, we saw just how much that community had grown when 71 people attended a single workout, our largest turnout to date.

Looking at that photo alongside the one from our first workout in January 2013 tells an incredible story about the chapter's growth. But I've learned that growth doesn't happen simply because we attend more expos, make more networking calls or promote Achilles in more places.

Growth is built through relationships.

A friend brings a friend. A volunteer invites a coworker. An athlete tells someone about their experience. One connection leads to another, and suddenly the community is bigger.

That's why I make it a priority to reach out to my athletes individually each week.

It can take time, but I've learned how meaningful those personal connections can be. I don't always know what someone's life looks like outside of Achilles. I don't know whether I'm the only person they've spoken with that week or simply another person checking in.

Either way, I want them to know that someone is thinking about them and that they have a place here.

That has been one of the biggest lessons I've learned as a Chapter Leader. Our greatest strength isn't our equipment, the number of workouts we offer or even how many people attend.

It's our people.

When we invest in those relationships, the impact extends far beyond one workout or race. We create a community people want to return to, bring their friends into and share with others.

That's how Achilles Houston has grown from a group gathering for its first workout in January 2013 to 71 people coming together on a single Saturday in 2026.

And it's how we'll continue to grow: one athlete, one guide, one friendship and one personal connection at a time.