Bruce Worley

Hometown: Columbia, Maryland
INAS Sports: Track and Field,  Rowing
Teams: Athletes Without Limits/DC Strokes Rowing Team

Bruce Worley, 25, has been running since the age of 8.  The word that best describes him is “persistence,” a philosophy which he has upheld all his life.  
While still in elementary school, Bruce began running as part of a junior striders’ program.  Although not the fastest runner, he kept up his practice, and grew to become an elite long-distance runner.

Bruce has won several age group awards for running road races, and at age 19 won a medal for running a 16.2 mile event.  While a junior in high school, he reached his goal of completing a marathon (26.2 miles.)  He continues to run and compete in local races along with his brother Mark, also an athlete.

Since high school, Bruce has participated in Special Olympics Track, Cross-Country, and Basketball and has won many Special Olympics medals at the county and state levels.  Last year Bruce was chosen to lead the state Special Olympics torch delegation.

In addition to running year-round, Bruce recently joined the Athletes Without Limits/DC Strokes Rowing Team, which will race and train from April-Nov 2011. Bruce works full time at the county hospital where he operates floor and carpet-cleaning equipment, a job which he has held now for over 3 years.

Competition Highlights

• 2012 C.R.A.S.H.-B. Indoor Rowing Sprints Silver Medal in Men’s Intellectually Disabled 1,000m
• Member of 2011 Global Games Team in 10,000m run and 500m indoor rowing.
• Clydes 10K April 17, 2011 10K – 44:35

News Coverage

50+ Athletes with Disability Compete at C.R.A.S.H.-B. Indoor Rowing Sprints

Event shows great promise for integration of athletes with intellectual, 
physical, and visual disabilities into prominent sporting events Boston, MA – Over 50 athletes with disabilities competed amongst the 2,200+ total participants at the 2012 C.R.A.S.H.-B. Sprints, an annual indoor rowing competition that took place earlier today at Boston University’s Agganis Arena. Competitors rowed 1,000 or 2,000 meters against the clock on sponsor Concept2 ergometers in various categories including Men’s and Women’s Open, Lightweight,...

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Video: Team USA Indoor Rowing Relay Practice at 2011 Global Games Italy

Sarah Gilbert, Bruce Worley and Mark Worley, members of the US team competing at the 2011 Global Games Indoor Rowing World Championships, received coaching on how to transition in a four-person relay from Julie Holman and Italian Rowing Team Coach Frederica.

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Lea Leads Team USA with Two World Championship Gold Medals at Global Games in Italy

October 10, 2011 Washington, DC - Six elite athletes with intellectual disability represented the United States at the INAS Global Games World Championships in Italy from September 24 - October 3. Nearly 700 athletes from 40 countries competed in swimming, athletics, tennis, basketball, indoor soccer, cycling, and table tennis. The Global Games are a major preparatory competition for the London 2012 Paralympic Games where for the first time since 2000 people with intellectual disability will be compete in swimming, table tennis, and athletics.

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Global Games World Championships for Para-Athletes with Intellectual Disability Begins in Italy

September 29, 2011 Loano, Italy — The competition for the team of US athletes at the 2011 INAS/IPC Global Games in Liguria Italy began today when swimmers Leslie Cichocki and Sarah Gilbert took to the water at Palasporte, the 50m outdoor competition pool in Loano, Italy.

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US Athletes Without Limits Head to Italy for Global Games

September 1, 2011 – Athletes Without Limits, a nonprofit dedicated to helping athletes with intellectual disability integrate and accelerate in sport, is proud to announce a strong US National team for the 2011 INAS Global Games. The Games are the world championship for athletes with intellectual disability and a key qualifier in Swimming, Track & Field for London 2012 Paralympic Games. Athletes Without Limits will be leading a team of six athletes to Liguria, Italy, for the prestigious international event that takes place every 4 years...

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Athletes Without Limits, DC Strokes Launch 
“America Rows” Program for Athletes with 
Intellectual Disability & Paralympic Dreams

May 2011: The athletes train together with Wakefield High School rowers to learn to row and race 8-man sweeps, fours, and pair sculling in open competition.

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