Chapter Milestones: Panama
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 60+ chapters worldwide, each with its own story to tell.
We asked members of the Achilles Panama 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 Geraldine Petterson's reflection below.
Geraldine Petterson, Chapter Leader, Achilles Panama
My Achilles journey really began in 2009, years before Achilles Panama officially existed.
I saw a visually impaired runner competing alongside a guide and was deeply moved by the trust, connection and determination between them. There was something incredibly powerful about watching two people work together toward the same goal. That moment stayed with me.
Years later, it became part of the inspiration to bring Achilles to Panama and create more opportunities for people with disabilities to experience that same sense of possibility through sport.
Achilles Panama was officially founded in 2018 with a simple but important goal: to create a space where people with disabilities could participate in sports in a safe, supportive and empowering environment. Those opportunities were, and continue to be, limited in our country.
In our earliest days, we were just a small group. We had a couple of athletes with disabilities, a couple of guides and a lot to figure out.
One of my favorite photos from that time captures the day we received our official Achilles guide shirts for the first time. It may seem like a small detail, but to us, those shirts represented something much bigger. They gave us a sense of identity, belonging and purpose. We didn't know yet how much the chapter would grow or how many people would eventually become part of our community. We just knew we were building something important.
Since then, Achilles Panama has helped create a more inclusive sports culture by bringing athletes with disabilities into mainstream races and training spaces throughout the country. But our impact extends far beyond physical activity.
We've created a community where athletes and guides can build relationships, develop confidence and experience a genuine sense of belonging. We're also working to expand beyond our current community and reach additional provinces so that more people across Panama can access these opportunities.
What makes me proudest are the relationships that have formed along the way. I've watched athletes and guides develop meaningful connections while working toward goals together. I've seen athletes complete their first races, reach personal milestones and go on to participate in international events.
Every accomplishment is different, but each one represents another person discovering what is possible when the right opportunities and support are there. Our Hope & Possibility race has become a particularly powerful reflection of that growth.
By the second year of hosting the race in Panama, what had started as a dream of creating a truly inclusive event had become a reality. We were no longer the small group from our earliest days. Athletes with disabilities and guides came together as a vibrant community, sharing the same course and crossing the same finish line. The energy that day was filled with joy, pride and belonging.
For many of our athletes, it wasn't simply about completing a race. It was about being seen, included and celebrated. That is what inclusion should look like.
One of the biggest lessons I've learned through Achilles is that inclusion isn't only about providing access. It's also about changing mindsets. When barriers are removed and people are given genuine opportunities to participate, they consistently exceed expectations.
I think back to that moment in 2009 when I first saw a visually impaired runner and guide racing together. I couldn't have known then where that experience would eventually lead.
Today, I can look at Achilles Panama and see that same trust and connection multiplied across an entire community.
We've grown from just a few athletes and guides figuring things out together into a movement creating opportunities and changing perceptions about disability throughout Panama.
And we're still growing.
Our goal is to continue reaching more people, expanding into more communities and creating spaces where athletes with disabilities aren't simply given access, but are welcomed, supported and celebrated.
Because when inclusion is intentional, possibility follows.
