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Rio-bound: Flagstaff resident, Arizona Wildcat alum Kaitlyn Verfuerth headed to Paralympic Games

Posted at 2:45 PM, Jun 27, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-27 23:59:33-04

Flagstaff resident and University of Arizona graduate Kaitlyn Verfuerth is about to become a three-time Paralympian.

Verfuerth was one of three women selected to the 2016 U.S. Paralympic wheelchair tennis team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the United States Tennis Association announced Monday.

Verfuerth, who has a Bachelors degree in psychology from UA, represented the USA at the 2004 and 2008 Paralympic games. She won two gold medals at the 2007 Parapan American Games in Rio, and she earned a bronze medal at the 2014 Copa Americas Cup. Check out her full list of accomplishments here.

Verfuerth also competed on the USA women's wheelchair basketball team, making the trip from Flagstaff to Phoenix in order to practice.

The 30-year-old Verfuerth, who's originally from Port Washington, Washington, is a tennis coach at Flagstaff High School. She formerly owned a self-serve yogurt shop with her husband in Flagstaff. She's also a thrill-seeker and lover of the outdoors, and she has gone cliff diving and skydiving.