Biography
As a young up and coming competitive swimmer, Cheryl Angelelli had always dreamed of competing in the Olympics someday. However a devastating accident at the age of 14, would change the course of her dreams forever. While practicing a new racing dive, Angelelli hit her head at the bottom of the pool and broke her neck. Despite the challenges of living as a quadriplegic, Angelelli turned stumbling blocks into stepping stones, and turned tragedy into triumph.
A graduate of Oakland University in Rochester Hills, MI, Angelelli holds a bachelor's degree in communications. Her interest in television journalism led her to free-lance as a writer and reporter prior to her current employment as director of marketing and public relations for the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan. In 1991, she was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Michigan and went on to win the title of First Runner-up Ms. Wheelchair America.
During her reign she traveled as a motivational speaker, dispelling the myths and stereotypes about persons with disabilities. Angelelli is also a freelance journalist, model, and product spokesperson for Invacare wheelchairs. Despite all her accomplishments, Angelelli longed to reach the swimming heights she once dreamed about as a young athlete.
In 1998, after a 15-year absence, Cheryl returned to the pool and made the 2000 Paralympic team. Since then she has returned twice, earning a pair of bronze medals at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, and a pair of silver medals at the 2008 Paralympics in Beijing. In 2006, she received two gold medals and a silver medal at the IPC Swimming World Championships in Durban, South Africa.
Angelelli’s success in the pool and in life is the subject of a documentary film entitled “Untold Dreams.” For more information on the film, visit www.untolddreams.net
Angelelli co-produced the film to help build awareness about the Paralympics and the many ABILITIES of persons with disabilities. Her many swimming honors include:
- Member of U.S. National Disabled Swim Team 1998
- 2000 National Champion women's 100-meter freestyle
- American record holder women's 100-meter breaststroke
- American record holder women's 4x50 medley relay
- American best women's 400-meter freestyle
- Pan American record holder women's 4x50 medley relay
- Michigan Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame inductee 2000
- Michigan Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame Disabled Female Athlete of the Year 2000
- 2000 Female Amateur Athlete of the Year for the State of Michigan, presented by Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports.
- Member 2000 U.S. Paralympic Swim Team
- Member 2002 U.S. World Championship Swim Team
- Michigan Athletes with Disabilities Hall of Fame Disabled Female Athlete of the Year 2003
- 2004 National Champion women's 200-meter freestyle
- Double bronze medalist at 2004 Summer Paralympic Games in Athens, Greece
- 2006 World Champion in the 100-meter and 200-meter freestyle
- 2007 Tony Filippis Sr. Courage Award recipient, presented by the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame
- Two-time silver medalist at 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China