RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A young Richmond athlete with spina bifida is an honoree for a 2024 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Award meant to celebrate youth leadership in sports.
Hannah Smith was born with spina bifida, a condition where a child’s spinal cord does not develop properly. She has been in a wheelchair her entire life — but she certainly hasn’t let that stop her from making waves in the sports industry.
Smith picked up adaptive sports at Sportable in Richmond at the age of 11 and has been an advocate for accessibility in sports ever since. She launched their inaugural wheelchair basketball camp and wheelchair basketball clinic, celebrating those like herself who take to the court in their wheelers.
“Hannah’s impact has gone beyond the court — they see her being successful in school and in pursuits outside of sports, and she is just a great role model,” said Hunter Leemon, CEO of Sportable. “I really feel like, if kids can pick up on that when they come in and are a part of Sportable — that’s the impact we want to have.”