Birrenkott, Janel

Born deaf; graduated a hearing high school, where she played basketball, track, and softball. Played professional women's basketball with the Pride of Iowa team for a short time in the late 1980s, until that team's league folded just months after its launch. Member of the gold-medal-winning USA women's basketball team at the 1993 World Games for the Deaf, and added a bronze medal in the javelin throw; repeated the gold-medal basketball win in the 1997 World Games for the Deaf. Did not discover the deaf community and learn sign language until age 23. She has a brother who is also deaf.