BYU Gymnast competes while deaf and blind in one eye

This story follows Aimee Walker Pond, a gymnast who grew up competing while deaf and blind in one eye and eventually competed at the Division 1 collegiate level.

The story is told by freelance reporter Sammy Linebaugh and was broadcast on the MTN sports network. The story recently won an Emmy from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in the Pacific Southwest Chapter for Best Sports/Feature Story.

About Aimee: Watch the story.

About Sammy: Sammy Played little league football, semi-professional soccer, was the valedictory speaker at her college graduation, and has a Masters Degree from Harvard.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Deaf
• BYU
• gymnast
• sammy
• linebaugh
• aimee
• pond

[kennedydancer]

Im hard to hearing and Im almost blind in one of my eye. I had alot of teachers and kids saying I can't get to college or drivers license and can't do what hearing people can do, well guess what Im doing basketball, and volleyball,dance and im only age 13. Im going to show the people what I can do, and show who I really am. A Deaf or blind person can do the same thing as a hearing person can do. Im proud of her. Keep up the good work :)

[Ulquiorra4th]

im blind in one eye i had teachers and my own family telling me i can't go to college or get a drivers License well guess what i got my license, a car, living on my own and in college and this fall i will be taking my majors for respirtoy therapy and no one is going to stop me!!! woo-hoo!!!

[CharmieKid]

As a man blind in one eye, I approve.

[keego666]

Its amazing that they can all sign. She's absolutely amazing and inspiring.

[jjovereats]

@kennedydancer ouch! You may have to get a cochlear implant if all goes badly for you. You seem to have a progressive deafblindness going on. I don't know what type, but that you have one terrifies me.

[davlor86]

I'm completely deaf from one ear and partially blind from one eye, i still i feel like i can do lots of things.

[sarababbyx3]

i love this girl

[OctavioRedding]

I'm blind in one eye too... 3D movies, video games and television are a conspiracy specifically designed to keep us down.

She's incredibly hot.

[ConservativeSamizdat]

I met Amiee while attending BYU. She's one of the coolest girls ever. Extremely sweet and talented.

[EmilyRoseKid]

Thats amazing that she would choose to do a gienger on bars and do it so well. I mean thats flipping and twisting and catching the bar while being blind in one eye. Amazing. I would think she would do a tkatchev or a jaeger. And that double twist dismount?!? She's really amazing.

[deafornot2]

Happy New Year 2011! on a deaf specific dating site Deafornot dot c om, it requires members to disclose their condition upfront

[MarcusMasters]

im blind in one eye and my right eye isn't stright is that right?... cuz i hate it