# Mark Wellman

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'''Mark Wellman''' is an [author](/source/author), [filmmaker](/source/filmmaker), [paralympian](/source/paralympics), and motivational [speaker](/source/Orator), who is best known for his 1989 ascent of [El Capitan](/source/El_Capitan) in [Yosemite National Park](/source/Yosemite_National_Park), which was the first ascent of the cliff by a [paraplegic](/source/paraplegic).  He has appeared on National [television](/source/television) speaking about his ascent.  He has written a biography, ''Climbing Back'', as well as given many powerful speeches for himself and other paraplegics.

Wellman lit the cauldron for the opening of the [1996 Summer Paralympics](/source/1996_Summer_Paralympics) in Atlanta after carrying the flaming torch up a 120-foot rope.

== Climb ==
7 years before the El Capitan climb at the age of 21 Wellman lost use of his legs when he fell 100 feet off a mountain in the [Sierra Nevadas](/source/Sierra_Nevada_(U.S.)), injuring his spine. However, he became the first [paraplegic](/source/paraplegic) to climb El Capitan, over the course of six days. While he climbed up the mountain, a friend named Mike Corbett accompanied him and supported his slips.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24476489.html?dids=24476489:24476489&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+08%2C+1991&author=John+Husar.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Paraplegic+Wellman+climbs+his+way+to+the+top&pqatl=google|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110525155108/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/24476489.html?dids=24476489:24476489&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Dec+08,+1991&author=John+Husar.&pub=Chicago+Tribune+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&desc=Paraplegic+Wellman+climbs+his+way+to+the+top&pqatl=google|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 25, 2011|author=John Husar|title=Paraplegic Wellman climbs his way to the top|publisher=[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)|date=December 8, 1991|accessdate=January 28, 2009}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

== External links ==
*{{official website|http://nolimitstahoe.com/}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports|oly}}
{{Succession box
| title = Final Paralympic Torchbearer
| before = [Helge Bjørnstad](/source/Helge_Bj%C3%B8rnstad)
| after = Naoya Maruyama 
| years = [Atlanta 1996](/source/1996_Summer_Paralympics)
}}
{{Succession box
| title = Final Summer Paralympic Torchbearer
| before = [Antonio Rebollo](/source/Antonio_Rebollo) & Coral Bistuer
| after = [Louise Sauvage](/source/Louise_Sauvage)
| years = [Atlanta 1996](/source/1996_Summer_Paralympics)
}}
{{S-end}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wellman, Mark}}
Category:Living people
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)
Category:People with paraplegia

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mark Wellman](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wellman) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Wellman?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.