Kendall Gretsch grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois, playing basketball, swimming, and rock climbing. She has spina bifida. When she got to Washington University in St. Louis to study biomedical engineering, she added triathlon to the list and turned out to be exceptional at it. By 2016, she had won three consecutive para triathlon world championships. Then her classification was not selected for the Rio Paralympic Games, and she had to make a decision: keep training in a discipline that might not get her to the Games, or try something new. She chose para Nordic skiing, a sport she had never trained in. Eight years later, she is heading to her fifth Paralympic Games. What She Has Built. Gretsch made her Paralympic debut at PyeongChang 2018 and delivered something rare: a history-making performance in her first attempt on the biggest stage in Para sport. She won gold in the para biathlon 6km sitting and gold in the para cross-country skiing 12km sitting, becoming the first American athlete to medal in biathlon at either the Olympic or Paralympic level. Not first para athlete. First American, period. She was born with spina bifida, and that PyeongChang performance showed what was possible from the other side of that diagnosis in a way that no amount of advocacy could have. At Tokyo 2020, she added a gold in the paratriathlon, making her one of only five Americans ever to win gold at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. Two completely different sports, two...

Kendall Gretsch: Defending Paralympic Gold at Milano Cortina 2026

Kendall Gretsch grew up in Downers Grove, Illinois, playing basketball, swimming, and rock climbing. She has spina bifida. When she got to Washington University in St. Louis to study biomedical engineering, she added triathlon to the list and turned out to be exceptional at it. By 2016, she had won three consecutive para triathlon world championships. Then her classification was not selected for the Rio Paralympic Games, and she had to make a decision: keep training in a discipline that might not get her to the Games, or try something new. She chose para Nordic skiing, a sport she had never trained in. Eight years later, she is heading to her fifth Paralympic Games. What She Has Built. Gretsch made her Paralympic debut at PyeongChang 2018 and delivered something rare: a history-making performance in her first attempt on the biggest stage in Para sport. She won gold in the para biathlon 6km sitting and gold in the para cross-country skiing 12km sitting, becoming the first American athlete to medal in biathlon at either the Olympic or Paralympic level. Not first para athlete. First American, period. She was born with spina bifida, and that PyeongChang performance showed what was possible from the other side of that diagnosis in a way that no amount of advocacy could have. At Tokyo 2020, she added a gold in the paratriathlon, making her one of only five Americans ever to win gold at both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. Two completely different sports, two...

A study reported in Science Daily confirms that the active form of Bisphenol A (BPA) is absorbed more rapidly into the body than previously thought. BPA is a toxic chemical found in paper and plastic used to store food and beverages. As an endocrine disruptor, BPA mimics the body's own hormones leading to negative health effects. More than two hundred lab animal tests suggest that BPA exposure, even in low doses contributes to a staggering number of health problems in children, including memory loss, learning difficulties, behavioral problems, impaired immune responses, and sensory issues. Children are more vulnerable to environmental toxins as they absorb proportionately greater amounts than adults and their rapid development increases their risk. “People are primarily and unknowingly exposed to BPA through the diet because of the various plastic and paper containers used to store our food are formulated with BPA,” said Cheryl Rosenfeld associate professor in biomedical sciences and Bond Life Sciences investigator. “We know that the active form of BPA binds to our steroid receptors, meaning it can affect estrogen, thyroid and testosterone function. It might also cause genetic mutations. Thus, this chemical can hinder our ability to reproduce and possibly cause behavioral abnormalities that we are just beginning to understand.” Eight billion pounds of BPA are produced every year. Ninety-percent of people in the United States have measureable amounts in their bodies. Plastics that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA. In the European Union and Canada,...

Study finds Bisphenol A (BPA) harms kids' learning and health; diet is main exposure route. Solution: detox with chlorella.

BPA Contributes to Learning Difficulties

A study reported in Science Daily confirms that the active form of Bisphenol A (BPA) is absorbed more rapidly into the body than previously thought. BPA is a toxic chemical found in paper and plastic used to store food and beverages. As an endocrine disruptor, BPA mimics the body's own hormones leading to negative health effects. More than two hundred lab animal tests suggest that BPA exposure, even in low doses contributes to a staggering number of health problems in children, including memory loss, learning difficulties, behavioral problems, impaired immune responses, and sensory issues. Children are more vulnerable to environmental toxins as they absorb proportionately greater amounts than adults and their rapid development increases their risk.  “People are primarily and unknowingly exposed to BPA through the diet because of the various plastic and paper containers used to store our food are formulated with BPA,” said Cheryl Rosenfeld associate professor in biomedical sciences and Bond Life Sciences investigator. “We know that the active form of BPA binds to our steroid receptors, meaning it can affect estrogen, thyroid and testosterone function. It might also cause genetic mutations. Thus, this chemical can hinder our ability to reproduce and possibly cause behavioral abnormalities that we are just beginning to understand.” Eight billion pounds of BPA are produced every year. Ninety-percent of people in the United States have measureable amounts in their bodies. Plastics that are marked with recycle codes 3 or 7 may be made with BPA. In the European Union and Canada,...

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Special Needs
Articles

Kendall Gretsch: Defending Paralympic Gold at Milano Cortina 2026

BPA Contributes to Learning Difficulties

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs Articles

Kendall Gretsch: Defending Paralympic Gold at Milano Cortina 2026

BPA Contributes to Learning Difficulties

Find Providers Near You

Special Needs
Articles