U.S Paralympian Meghan Lino, 35, was born in Falmouth Massachusetts. Meghan is a 12-year curling veteran whose outstanding performance has twice qualified her to represent team USA in the Paralympics. Meghan first tried out for the U.S. Wheelchair Curling National Team in 2012 where she was among the top 8 qualifiers, however, only those in the top 5 were selected for international travel . The competition to make the wheelchair curling roster is twice as difficult as some Paralympic sports since it is co-ed. Meghan went home that year disappointed, but twice as motivated.
Meghan made her debut in the 2014 Paralympics in Sochi, Russia, where the team placed 5th, and has not disappointed since. In the following year Meghan played on US teams that competed in the World Wheelchair Championship. She once again represented the USA at the 2018 Paralympic Winter Games in South Korea and was named to the 2019 world wheelchair curling team despite having an off-season surgery and not being able to compete for six months.
Meghan was born with Spina Bifida, a condition that causes limited use of her legs and minimal sensation. However, that did not keep Meghan from pursuing her passion as a professional wheelchair curler.
“Wheelchair curling is 80% harder than the normal game because you don’t have the ability of sweepers. When able-bodied curlers sweep the stone, they can pull that stone farther. We, on the other hand, have to use the sole movement of our arm. If we are not throwing at the right speed or with enough precision, our shot is not going to land where we want it to,” Meghan explained. Despite the disadvantages Meghan open heartedly pursued her love for sport, and is currently a professional curler, and not just any curler – she is one of the best.
Recently Meghan has also had to endure the loss of a great mentor and coach, Tony Colacchio. Colacchio, a former associate coach with Team USA, died in November after battling cancer, but his legacy lives on through those whose, like Meghan, whose lives he significantly impacted.
When she is not competing around the world, Meghan has various hobbies from fishing to swimming to spending time with her family. She also uses some of her time to work in raising awareness and increasing participation in sports for kids and young adults with disabilities.
“When I was growing up I’d see people in chairs do amazing things and it really lifts you up, and being able to do that for someone else and showing them that they can get into sports… and that anything is possible, you just got to adapt and that’s what I’ve learned to do over the years” says Meghan, and that is exactly what she has done and continues to do.
Her resilience and love for sports continues to keep Meghan motivated and excited to do what she loves most despite the barriers. When asked about whether or not she wanted continue to make the trip to the Paralympics Meghan says that “As long as I stay healthy, I’ll make the trip.” Meghan continues her adventures as a wheelchair curler this season, having been named to the 2020 U.S. Wheelchair Curling National Team.
