Holland Reporter

ALLENDALE, MICH. – For the fourth time in his professional career, former Grand Valley State Track and Field Hall of Famer Chris Hammer has qualified for the Paralympics. The 2008 graduate will be competing in the triathlon, which starts on September 1 and concludes on the 2nd.

Hammer has previously competed in the Paralympics in 2012, 2016, and 2020. He placed fourth in the triathlon in both 2016 and 2020 and competed in the 1500m, marathon, and 800m events in the 2012 games.

His international experience extends beyond these competitions. Over the years, he has participated in multiple events, winning seven medals from 2014 to 2023. Notably, he secured a gold medal at the 2021 World Championships, a silver medal in 2022, and five bronze medals across five World Championships.

During his career at GVSU from 2004-08, Hammer was a five-time All-American. He earned this distinction four times in steeplechase and once in cross country. Additionally, he contributed to nine conference titles for the Lakers across cross country as well as indoor and outdoor track and field events. In recognition of his achievements, he was inducted into the GVSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.

"High school was when my passion for endurance sport was ignited," said Hammer. "But it was at GVSU under Coach Baltes where I really learned what it takes to do something with that passion. It was nothing fancy but special; there was a culture of accountability and one where we expected more out of each other and held ourselves to that standard as well. And that meant being consistent and putting in the work, especially when it's the last thing you want to do. I credit my time there for shaping me into the athlete that I am today!"

The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games can be watched on NBC, CNBC, USA Network or streamed on Peacock.