ALLENDALE CHARTER TOWNSHIP, Mich. — Grand Valley State University Hall of Famer Chris Hammer is now a Paralympic champion.
Hammer's former coach said he was a star on the track field in college and he always knew Hammer was destined for greatness.
"He always had a smile on his face, always giggling, laughing. Very supportive teammate. He was a great team member and leader for us," said GVSU Track & Field Head Coach Jerry Baltes.
Years of hard work paid off for 38-year-old Chris Hammer at the Paralympics on Sunday.
"I think he was just relieved to have an opportunity to compete and get out there and show the hard work he's put in. Four years of high school, five years in our program and then I think it's been 16 years he's been doing the post-collegiate Paralympic dream," said Baltes.
On Sunday, Hammer won gold in the men's PTS5 Paratriathlon in Paris, finishing the race in 58 minutes and 44 seconds. Jerry Baltes was Hammer's coach at GVSU and has been the track and field head coach at the school for the past 26 years. He said Hammer has always been a force on the field but was hesitant when the director of the Paralympic team, Joaquin Cruz, approached him to be on the team.
"He was a four-time all-American in the steeplechase. Chris was born without a right hand. He never saw himself, or never saw that as you know, he didn't see it any different. When Joaquin came up to him and asked if he wanted to consider the Paralympic team and down that road, he was like, dead set against it," said Baltes.
After some convincing from his coaches and teammates, Hammer joined the Paralympic team.
In 2022, he was inducted into the GVSU Athletics Hall of Fame. Baltes said Hammer sacrificed a lot between his career and family to fulfill his dreams. He said Hammer is an inspiration to many.
"I think that's probably the biggest message that we're sharing with our athletes, is just, you got to be willing to commit to something and be patient, because this is his fourth opportunity at the Paralympics, and it takes some time to get to the top," said Baltes.
Hammer currently lives in Arizona with his family. He’ll be flying back from Paris in the next couple days.