Deaf people in the Olympics

At the time of writing this article, the earliest known deaf person to compete at the Olympic Games was Carlo Orlandi, an Italian boxer who competed in the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam.

In some cases, adaptations could be made to accommodate deaf athletes such as Marcus Titus.^[1][2]

The International Committee of Sports for the Deaf organises the Deaflympics every four years for deaf athletes. Some of the people listed in this article are also involved in the activities of the Deaflympics.

Sports coaches are learning to adapt their strategies to accommodate deaf athletes, particularly those taking part in team sports. The American men's volleyball coach John Speraw has the "David Smith Rule" for his middle blocker.^[3]

Summer games

Athletes

The table below shows Deaf athletes known to have competed in the Olympics. All either competed at the Deaflympics, or would have qualified to do so. To qualify for the Deaflympics, "athletes must have a hearing loss of at least 55db in their 'better ear'. Hearing aids, cochlear implants and the like are not allowed to be used in competition, to place all athletes on the same level"^[4] In the Olympics, there is no restriction on hearing loss or use of hearing aids.

Person (Nation)	Deaflympic Games		Olympic Games			Games	Sport	Games	Sport	References
	Carlo Orlandi (ITA)			1928 Amsterdam	Boxing	[5]
Donald Gollan (GBR)			1928 Amsterdam	Rowing	[5]
Ignazio Fabra (ITA)	1961 Helsinki 1965 Washington DC 1969 Belgrade	Wrestling	1952 Helsinki 1956 Melbourne	Wrestling	[6]
Ildikó Újlaky-Rejtő (HUN)			1960 Rome 1964 Tokyo 1968 Mexico City 1972 Munich 1976 Montreal	Fencing	[7]
Vyacheslav Skomorokhov (URS)	1969 Belgrade 1973 Malmö 1977 Bucharest 1981 Köln	Athletics	1968 Mexico City	Athletics	[8]
Jeffrey Float (USA)	1977 Bucharest	Swimming	1984 Los Angeles	Swimming	[9]
Dean Barton-Smith (AUS)	1985 Los Angeles 1989 Christchurch 1993 Sofia 2005 Melbourne	Athletics	1992 Barcelona	Athletics	[10][11]
Terence Parkin (RSA)	1997 Copenhagen 2001 Rome 2005 Melbourne 2009 Taipei 2013 Sofia	Swimming Cycling	2000 Sydney 2004 Athens	Swimming	[12][13]
Frank Bartolillo (AUS)			2004 Athens	Fencing	[13][14]
Hugo Passos (POR)	1997 Copenhagen 2001 Rome 2005 Melbourne 2009 Taipei	Wrestling	2004 Athens	Wrestling	[13][15]
Tony Ally (GBR)			2004 Athens	Diving	[13]
Tamika Catchings (USA)			2004 Athens 2008 Beijing 2012 London	Women's Basketball	[16]
Chris Colwill (USA)			2008 Beijing 2012 London	Diving	[17]
David Smith (USA)			2012 London 2016 Rio	Volleyball	[3][18]

Opening Ceremony

Person (Nation)
	Games	Role	References
KAOS Choir (GBR)	2012 London	Performed British National anthem	[19]
Evelyn Glennie (GBR)	2012 London	Lead percussionist	[20]
Mike Hawthorne (GBR)	2012 London	Dancer	[21]

References

1. Flaherty, Bryan (19 April 2012). "USA Swimming will allow hand signals to accommodate deaf athletes at Olympic Games". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
2. "Deaf olympic swimming hopeful Marcus Titus makes history". healthyhearing.com.
3. "United States volleyball David Smith competes with hearing loss". Fox News.
4. Historical overview of the Paralympics, Special Olympics, and Deaflympics. Thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved on 17 October 2011.
5. "Disabled Olympic Participants". Top End Sports. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
6. "Deaflympics". International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
7. "A Guide to Olympic Sports - Fencing". BBC. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
8. "Deaflympics". International Committee of Sports for the Deaf. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
9. "Keynote Speaker: Jeff Float". World Class Speakers & Entertainers. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
10. "Dean Barton-Smith wins rare Edwin Flack award". Deaf Sports Australia. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
11. "Athlete Information: Dean Barton-Smith". Deaflympics. Retrieved 2013-02-07.
12. "Terence PARKIN". Deaflympics. Retrieved 2016-09-07.
13. "Game Plans for Athletes with Hearing Loss". Dee Naquin Shafer. 2004-10-05. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
14. "Frank Bartolillo-Deaf Australian Fencer To Participate In Olympics". Workersforjesus.com. 1981-12-22. Retrieved 2012-08-01.
15. "Athlete Profile: Hugo Miguel Passos". Deaflympics. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
16. "Tamika Catchings: WNBA Superstar; Star to the Indianapolis Community". Mike White. 2007-07-07. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
17. "Exclusive: Hearing loss won't hold back U.S. Olympic diver". Jason Owens. 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2012-08-15.
18. "David Smith Volleyball". TeamUSA. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
19. "The Kaos Signing Choir performs the British national anthem during the Opening Ceremony for the 2012 London Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium.". Richard Mackson - USA TODAY Sports. 2012-07-27. Retrieved 2012-08-17.
20. "KAOS Signing Choir and Deaf percussionist Evelyn Glennie are highlights from the Opening ceremony". Signing Savvy. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
21. "Olympics opening ceremony is dream come true for deaf Highbury dancer". Islington Gazette.