Local track athlete puts prosthetics to the test
ROANOKE - 16 year old Pete Tainer is putting on running prosthetics called Cheetahs that he using to train for the upcoming Coventry Commonwealth Games.
Our last meeting is a vague memory for him because he was 12 years old and focused on running and playing with his friends. Right now now he's just focused.
Tainer says, "I'm not winning yet.. but this is only my first year of track."
Most would say he has been a winner his whole life. As a baby he was labeled a disabled child by a Korean orphanage. A couple in Southwest Virginia adopted him. both of his feet had to be removed because of a birth defect.
Now he sprints around a track and works to get faster.
He says, "Brian Frasure a retired Para-Olympic World Champion was leading a seminar and he sort of got me into it."
WSLS 10 was at one of those seminars in May of 2009 where Frasure teaches amputees about what they can achieve through advances in prosthetics.
Peter was first fitted at Virginia Prosthetics in Roanoke and got his Cheetahs custom fitted there too.
Frasure says, "My message to them is we have the technology we have the experience to make you a prosthetic that should be comfortable and that you should be able to go out and do those things that you have done before."
Now Peter has only had the cheetah prosthetics for about six months and his coach says he's seen amazing progress in Pete's skills.
Lord Botetourt Track Coach, Peter Walton calls Pete an excuse remover.
Walton remarks, "Because when somebody meets him for the first time or has the opportunity to work with him on a team in a team setting it is really hard for them to start complaining about anything."
No complaints and no limits. Aside from getting ready for the Commonwealth Games and finishing high school Pete has his sights set on the military.
"Through the naval academy I could then join the marine core when I graduate and I have always wanted to be with the marines."
Our last meeting is a vague memory for him because he was 12 years old and focused on running and playing with his friends. Right now now he's just focused.
Tainer says, "I'm not winning yet.. but this is only my first year of track."
Most would say he has been a winner his whole life. As a baby he was labeled a disabled child by a Korean orphanage. A couple in Southwest Virginia adopted him. both of his feet had to be removed because of a birth defect.
Now he sprints around a track and works to get faster.
He says, "Brian Frasure a retired Para-Olympic World Champion was leading a seminar and he sort of got me into it."
WSLS 10 was at one of those seminars in May of 2009 where Frasure teaches amputees about what they can achieve through advances in prosthetics.
Peter was first fitted at Virginia Prosthetics in Roanoke and got his Cheetahs custom fitted there too.
Frasure says, "My message to them is we have the technology we have the experience to make you a prosthetic that should be comfortable and that you should be able to go out and do those things that you have done before."
Now Peter has only had the cheetah prosthetics for about six months and his coach says he's seen amazing progress in Pete's skills.
Lord Botetourt Track Coach, Peter Walton calls Pete an excuse remover.
Walton remarks, "Because when somebody meets him for the first time or has the opportunity to work with him on a team in a team setting it is really hard for them to start complaining about anything."
No complaints and no limits. Aside from getting ready for the Commonwealth Games and finishing high school Pete has his sights set on the military.
"Through the naval academy I could then join the marine core when I graduate and I have always wanted to be with the marines."
