For 17-year-old Grace Offman of North Muskegon, competing in The Hartford Nationals isn’t just about medals—it’s about proving to herself that she belongs.
“This is something I can do for myself in a community that understands my struggles,” says Offman, who lives with hereditary spastic paraplegia. “I’m thankful something like
The Hartford Nationals exists to help everyone feel welcome.”
Offman is one of hundreds of athletes with disabilities competing this week at The Hartford Nationals, the largest and longest-running national adaptive sports championship in the United States.
![]()
Move UnitedGrace Offman competed in the 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke, and 100-yard backstroke at The Hartford Nationals.
Hosted in Grand Rapids for the first time and only the second time in Michigan, the event highlights more than just elite competition. It offers a blueprint for inclusive access, resilience, and community transformation.
Held July 11-17, the event is organized by
Move United and supported by local host partners, including the
West Michigan Sports Commission and
Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports. Athletes qualified through regional events across the country, and 423 are competing in sports ranging from swimming and track to boccia, archery, powerlifting, and paratriathlon. This year's games have the highest participation of athletes.
“This national competition has been a stepping stone for many athletes to progress and compete at an international level, including the Paralympic Games,” says Move United CEO Glenn Merry. “It also creates life-changing opportunities for youth and adults to participate in sport, regardless of ability.”
‘Resilience, excellence, and community’
One of the most anticipated moments of the week was The Hartford Gifting Moment, held at Calvin University’s Gainey Athletic Complex. Paralympic gold medalist and wheelchair basketball player Matt Scott surprised four athletes with custom-fit adaptive sports equipment—an investment often 15 times more expensive than non-adaptive gear.
![]()
Move UnitedGold medalist Matt Scott gifted four athletes custom adaptive gear, including a boccia set for Heather Champlin, 48, of Cedar Springs.
This year’s recipients are:
- Heather Champlin, 48, of Cedar Springs – boccia set
- Dominic Norris, 26, of Thurmont, Maryland – javelin and discus equipment
- Divya Harkema, 12, of Grandville – track chair
- Noelani Spicer, 13, of San Antonio – seated field throwing chair
-
Additionally, 17-year-old Violet Hall of Bloomington, Indiana, was honored with The Hartford Human Achievement Award, recognizing her as a peer-nominated role model in adaptive sports. The award comes with a $2,500 grant to support her training and travel.
“The Hartford Nationals is more than a competition, it’s a celebration of resilience, excellence, and community,” says Claire Burns, chief marketing and customer officer at The Hartford. “We’re proud to help remove barriers to participation by making adaptive sports more accessible.”
![]()
Move UnitedThis competition has launched many athletes to the international stage, including the Paralympics.
Beyond the medals, the week-long event serves as a model for how cities can embrace inclusion through sports. Venues across the region, including the Venema Aquatic Center, Mary Free Bed YMCA, Millennium Park, and MSA Woodland, are hosting competitions and clinics, drawing athletes, coaches, and spectators from 36 states and the District of Columbia.
The event is expected to bring in more than $2 million from visitors and help the community get better at hosting inclusive events.
![]()
Move UnitedThis year’s Hartford Nationals saw the highest athlete participation to date.
“It’s an honor for the region and state to host The Hartford Nationals,” says Mike Guswiler, president of the West Michigan Sports Commission. “This shows what’s possible when cities invest in accessible spaces and embrace adaptive athletes as a vital part of the sporting community.”
Finding joy
Outside of the competitions, there are also fun and educational clinics in sports like para pickleball, adaptive judo, and wheelchair softball. Paralympic champions Daniel Romanchuk, Susannah Scaroni, and Tatyana McFadden are taking part to teach and inspire the next generation of athletes.
Grace Offman, who is competing in the 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke, and 100-yard backstroke, first got into swimming through a friend when she was younger. Today, she sees the sport not only as a source of joy but also as essential therapy to maintain function.
![]()
Move UnitedThe Hartford Nationals is expected to generate over $2 million and boost the community’s capacity for inclusive events.
“Swimming is happiness for me,” she says. “Even when I feel drained, I try to get back in the pool. It helps me physically and emotionally, and I love my team.”
Her advice to others with disabilities considering sports: Just do it and advocate for yourself. “It might be hard, but it’ll be worth it. I’ve made some of my best friends through swim, and I think I’d be pretty miserable without it.”
All competitions are open to the public, including the closing celebration Thursday, July 17, at MSA Woodland. The games will return next year. Learn more at
TheHartfordNationals.org.
“This is what inclusion looks like,” says Merry. “When we remove barriers, celebrate diverse abilities, and support athletes through access and opportunity, everyone wins.”
Photos courtesy of Move United