Hundreds of Athletes with Disabilities from Across the U.S. Compete at The Hartford Nationals in Grand Rapids July 11-17
Paralympic gold medalist and wheelchair basketball player Matt Scott to surprise local athletes with custom-fit adaptive sports equipment
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., JULY 1, 2025 –The Hartford Nationals conducted by Move United, the largest and longest-running national sport championship event for athletes with a physical disability, visual impairment, and/or intellectual disability, will take place in Grand Rapids, July 11-17. A first for the city and only the second time in Michigan, the competition is hosted locally by the West Michigan Sports Commission (WMSC) and Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports.
New to the competition lineup this year is boccia. Other contested sports include archery, para powerlifting, paratriathlon, shooting, swimming, track and field, and wheelchair and para standing tennis.
Athletes competing must have qualified through one of more than 35 sanctioned competitions that took place across the country throughout the Move United member network, a national governing body, or High School Athletic Association sanctioned event. In 2024, 397 athletes with disabilities and over 150 coaches from 34 states and the District of Columbia participated, with those numbers expected to increase this year.
“This national competition has been a stepping stone for many athletes to progress and compete at an international level, including the Paralympic Games,” said Move United CEO Glenn Merry. “In fact, 62 percent of the athletes that represented Team USA at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris either competed at this event or participated in another Move United program or event.”
The local organizing committee is spearheaded by the West Michigan Sports Commission, who competed through a nationwide bid process to host the event in 2025 and 2026, with support from Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports. Local venues hosting competition events throughout the week include Calvin University’s Gainey Athletic Facility (track & field), Calvin University’s Venema Aquatic Center (swimming), Mary Free Bed YMCA (archery and para powerlifting), Millennium Park (paratriathlon), MSA Woodland (boccia, shooting, opening and closing ceremonies), and MVP Athletic Club (tennis). Participants and their families will stay at hotels across the region, with the event generating an estimated economic impact of more than $2 million in direct visitor spending.
“It’s an honor for the region and state to host The Hartford Nationals in Michigan, and we are excited to showcase our many athletic venues, including our state-of-the-art Mary Free Bed YMCA, as competition sites for this prestigious event,” said West Michigan Sports Commission President Mike Guswiler. “Our organization is no stranger to Olympic-style sporting events, regularly hosting the Meijer State Games of Michigan plus the USA Masters Games, State Games of America and Transplant Games of America in the past. We are thrilled to partner with Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports to now host this multi-sport event that allows hundreds of athletes with disabilities to compete on a national stage.”
During the event, The Hartford—joined by Paralympic gold medalist and wheelchair basketball player Matt Scott—will surprise a group of four athletes with custom-fit adaptive sports equipment. In addition, one athlete, nominated by their peers, will receive The Hartford’s Human Achievement Award. This honor recognizes an individual who exemplifies the spirit of the adaptive sports movement and serves as a role model to others. The award includes a $2,500 grant to support the recipient’s training and travel as they pursue their athletic goals.
“The Hartford Nationals is more than a competition—it’s a celebration of resilience, excellence, and community,” said The Hartford’s Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, Claire Burns. “We continue our mission to increase participation in adaptive sports by making competitions, local events, and equipment more accessible to youth and adult athletes. Through our long-standing partnership with Move United, we are proud to help remove barriers, creating more opportunities for athletes of all abilities to experience the transformative power, and sense of belonging, that sport can bring.”
In addition to the competitions taking place, clinics and educational sessions will include sports such as sitting volleyball, adaptive judo, para pickleball, wheelchair softball, and tennis. Paralympic Gold Medalist Daniel Romanchuk and Susannah Scaroni will also lead a track clinic and Tatyana McFadden, one of Team USA’s most decorated summer Paralympic athletes of all time, will participate in activities throughout the week. Other Paralympic athletes, such as Rudy Garcia-Tolson, Amanda McGrory, and Bobby Body will serve as announcers during competition.
Visitor Information
Visitors are encouraged to attend The Hartford Nationals, with all competition events open to the public, including the Opening Ceremony Friday, July 11, 5 to 7:30 p.m. at MSA Woodland, 2100 28th St. SE. For information about The Hartford Nationals and the complete event schedule, visit TheHartfordNationals.org.
More than 600 volunteers are needed to support the week-long competition, with various volunteer roles available. Those interested can learn more at TheHartfordNationals.org (see volunteer page tinyurl.com/hartfordnationals for schedule and sign-up information). Groups of 10 or more can contact Trinity Kolka (tkolka@westmisports.com) at the WMSC.
Media Note: Media are welcome to cover The Hartford Nationals and should contact Shuan Butcher (sbutcher@moveunitedsport.org) in advance to coordinate interviews.
ABOUT MOVE UNITED
Move United is the national leader in community adaptive sports, empowering 125,000 youth and adults with disabilities each year to live to their fullest potential. Move United’s 245 member organizations in 45 states and the District of Columbia are united by a single mission: ensuring everyone, regardless of ability, experiences the life-changing power of sport and is fully included in their community.
Move United, an Affiliate of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, provides opportunities for individuals with disabilities to become physically and emotionally stronger through participation in 70 adaptive sports. Established in 1956, Move United offers community-based sports recreation, education and competition that push people further, bring people closer and leave no one on the sidelines. Join our MOVEment at www.moveunitedsport.org.
ABOUT THE HARTFORD
The Hartford is a leader in property and casualty insurance, employee benefits and mutual funds. With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust, and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at https://www.thehartford.com.
The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. For additional details, please read The Hartford's legal notice.
ABOUT THE LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Grand Rapids, Michigan, was selected as hosts of The Hartford Nationals in 2025 and 2026, with the West Michigan Sports Commission and Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports comprising the local organizing committee.
About the West Michigan Sports Commission
The non-profit West Michigan Sports Commission identifies, secures and hosts youth and amateur sporting events to positively impact the economy and quality of life in West Michigan. Since its inception in 2007, the WMSC has booked 1,216 events attracting more than 2.1 million athletes and visitors, generating over $649 million in direct visitor spending. Visit westmisports.com Facebook.com/WestMichiganSportsCommission and @westmisports on Twitter and Instagram.
About Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports
Mary Free Bed Wheelchair and Adaptive Sports is one of the largest programs of its kind in the country. Every year, Mary Free Bed provides enriching recreational opportunities to hundreds of people with disabilities – last year it totaled over 1,700 participants. Athletes of all ages and abilities participated in over 40 different classes, clinics and teams – including wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby, handcycling and wheelchair softball. Visit maryfreebed.com/sports for more information.