Eric Hacker (para-athlete)

Early life and education

Eric Hacker grew up in Chillicothe, Ohio, after being born in Columbus. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy as a baby and wore leg braces and did physical therapy as a young child.

Despite these challenges, he became a standout runner in junior high, eventually qualifying for state championships six times. In 2020, he graduated from Unioto High School as an honor-roll student and National Honor Society member. He then attended Shawnee State University, where he made the President's List in 2022 for top academic performance.

Para athletics and national competition

Hacker competes in the T38 para-athletics classification. At the 2019 Adaptive Sports USA Junior Nationals, he won national titles in the 1500 m and 3000 m T38 events, both setting national records in his classification.

His 1500 m performance (4:29.0) is listed as an American record by Adaptive Track & Field USA. He is a 13-time national qualifier, two-time All-American, and two-time Junior National Champion. Hacker qualified for the U.S. Paralympic Trials and competed on the pathway toward the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Did You Know?

• At Unioto High School, Hacker qualified 14 times for the OHSAA State Championships in cross-country and track.
• In 2019, he helped lead Unioto to a runner-up team finish at the OHSAA Division II State Cross Country Championships.
• The Ohio House of Representatives adopted House Resolution 225 in 2019 honoring Hacker for his national titles.