Jen Armbruster
Jennifer Armbruster is no newcomer to the international sports scene, as Beijing was her fifth Paralympic Games. At the 2008 Games, Armbruster, the Opening Ceremony flag bearer and team captain, helped lead her team to the gold medal.
In 1989, Armbruster was supposed to head to college on a basketball scholarship but started losing her vision late that year. That is when she was introduced to the team sport of goalball. She was asked to come try the sport in April 1990 and her team placed second at the national tournament that same year. She has been hooked ever since, as it was a team sport where she could bring together her basketball, volleyball, softball and soccer skills - sports she had participated in for 10 years prior.
Armbruster has always been drawn to team sports and early on dreamed of representing her country on the medal podium. Her dream came true when she represented the U.S. at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Barcelona.
Armbruster graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1997, with degrees in sociology and criminal justice. She received her master's degree from Sam Houston State in 2000.
Aside from goalball, Armbruster enjoys skiing, rock climbing, cycling and reading.
Major Achievements
- 2008: Gold medal, U.S. Paralympic Women's Goalball Team - Paralympic Games, Beijing, China
- 2006: Bronze medal - World Championships
- 2005: Gold medal - Pan American Games
- 2004: Silver medal - Paralympic Games, Athens, Greece
- 2002: Gold medal - World Championships
- 2001: Gold medal - Pan American Games
- 2001: Colorado Hall of Fame Amateur Athlete of the Year
- 2000: Member, U.S. Paralympic Women's Goalball Team - Paralympic Games, Sydney, Australia
- 1998: Bronze medal - World Championships
- 1996: Bronze medal - Paralympic Games, Atlanta, Ga.
1992: Member, U.S. Paralympic Women's Goalball Team - Paralympic Games, Barcelona, Spain
