2022 Hall of Fame Inductee - Heather "Hex" Lightfoot Withrow
USADSF Board member, Kevin Smith, the chair of the USADSF Hall of Fame Committee is pleased to announce one of the five 2022 Hall of Fame inductees.
Heather “Hex” Lightfoot Withrow, a graduate of the Washington School for the Deaf and Gallaudet University, is a three-time Deaflympian who competed in every type of throw (javelin, hammer, discus, and shot put), as well as women’s volleyball. Altogether, Hex won a total of five medals, including one gold, one silver, and three bronze.
At the 1997 Deaflympics in Copenhagen, Withrow helped the US Women’s Volleyball team to bronze and collected another bronze in the discus throw. Her dominance would continue throughout her collegiate career at Gallaudet, where she won three titles and set a school record in javelin. During her collegiate career, Withrow constantly pushed the international standard for Deaf athletes in the hammer throw, breaking the Deaf World Record four times.
In 2000, USADSF honored Withrow as the Female Athlete of the Year. Withrow would peak four years later at the 2001 Deaflympics in Rome a gold medal and new Deaf World Record in the hammer throw. Withrow also added a silver in the discus throw in Rome.
In 2005, two and half months after giving birth to her son, Skyler, Withrow went on to win bronze in the hammer throw.