BY USA ARCHERY

Photo by CCX Media

Paralympic archery gold medalist, Susan Hagel, has been selected as an inductee into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame, Class of 2025, and in doing so becomes the first archer inducted.

“I am the first archer, aren’t I,” Hagel said, with more than hint of surprise and pride. “I didn’t realize that, so that’s very exciting.”

Susan Hagel is a trailblazer in adaptive sport, having competed in six Paralympic Games across three different sports where she earned four gold and two bronze medals.

“When I got the call, I was just really overwhelmed at the honor,” admitted Hagel.

Working under the legendary coach, Jack Whitman, the Paralympic legend Hagel was a gold medalist in archery at the 1976 Paralympic Games in Toronto, Canada, as well as the 1984 Games, which were jointly held in England and New York. This success came during a period of domestic dominance, when she was national champion for 20 years.

At the 1984 Games, Hagel claimed individual gold by 80 points under the Double FITA format, with debutant Hifumi Suzuki (JPN) taking silver. Suzuki would go on to become Paralympic champion in Atlanta 12 years later.

Hagel added, “Way back then, under the FITA format, we had four days of shooting and so it was an endurance sport, and so to come out on top was such a thrill and such an accomplishment.”

Hagel’s legacy is defined not only by her athletic achievements but also by her unwavering dedication to the growth and inclusivity of adaptive sport.

“I do feel that giving back is something that is very important,” Hagel commented. “And anytime anyone has competed in sport - whether it is at a local level or an international level - there are so many people supporting you along the way.

“During the era that I was competing – in the 70s, 80s and 90s but especially the 70s – the opportunities and the recognition was not there for athletes with disabilities, like it is now.

“And so anything that I did to support my peers in their quest to engage in sport or any adaptive activities, I hope that I made a difference.”

For more than 40 years, Susan Hagel was a rehabilitation therapist. Among those she helped was Ian Lynch (pictured), who was introduced to adaptive sports by Hagel after being injured in a car accident at the age of eight. Lynch went on to compete at the 2012 and 2016 Paralympic Games in wheelchair basketball, winning gold and bronze.

Hagel said, “When someone sustains a disabling condition, or if someone is born with a disabling condition, there’s so much that you have to overcome in order to live your life.

“And if I have been able to give someone a motivation to accomplish in their life what they want to accomplish, then that would be the most meaningful thing to me.”

Hagel’s nomination fell within the Paralympian category, which involved a public vote. In addition to fan voting, which accounted for 10 per cent of the weighted total, U.S. Olympians and Paralympians, and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic family, additionally voted via a separate voting platform to account for 90 per cent of the weighted total.

National Governing Bodies, alumni, current athletes and additional members of the Olympic and Paralympic community were invited to nominate eligible athletes. The Class of 2025 was then determined by a voting process that included Olympians and Paralympians, members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic family and an online vote open to fans.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame was one of the first national sports halls of fame to include fan voting as part of its selection process, and this year, nearly 300,000 votes were cast across all platforms.  

“We’re proud to welcome the Class of 2025 into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame and to honor the extraordinary accomplishments they’ve made as representatives of Team USA,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland.

“This induction celebrates not only their remarkable performances and lasting impact but also acknowledges the essential contributions of those who supported their journeys every step of the way. Earning a place in the Hall of Fame is no small feat - especially given the incredible talent across this year’s group of finalists.” 

The Class of 2025 was reduced down to five Olympians, three Paralympians, one Olympic team, one Paralympic team, two legends, one coach and one special contributor. They will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at a ceremony in Colorado Springs, Colo. on July 12, and Susan Hagel will be in attendance.

The ceremony will form part of a weekend of celebration that will also feature the 2025 U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum's (USOPM) Festival, taking place July 10-13 in Colorado Springs. The festival will feature athlete meet and greets, free access to the USOPM, and special events including the Festival Kickoff Celebration, Community Movie Night, and more – all celebrating the legacy of America’s greatest athletes.

This will be the 18th class inducted into the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame, bringing the total to 210 inductees (individuals and teams). The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame was established in 1979 to celebrate the achievements of America's premier athletes in the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games. The first class was inducted in 1983, and the most recent class was inducted in 2022.

That first class was inducted during a ceremony in Chicago and included Team USA greats such as Muhammad Ali, Bob Beamon, Peggy Fleming, Al Oerter, Jesse Owens, Wilma Rudolph, Mark Spitz, Jim Thorpe and the 1980 "Miracle on Ice" men’s hockey team. Susan Hagel will be joining those greats as one of the Class of 2025.