Big Lead Sports Bar

5/12/2008

PITTSBURGH HAS A GLADIATOR


Monday night was the season premiere of NBC's American Gladiators, and it featured one of our own: Pittsburgh area native John Siciliano.

But Siciliano is no average Gladiator. He's a Paralympic and former college athlete who was once the captain of the Point Park soccer team. After the vehicle in which he was a passenger was struck by a drunk driver in 1993, he was forced to have his right leg amputated.

Fitted with a prosthetic, he competed in the 1996 Paralympics and broke the 200-meter record in the trials. Unfortunately, his prosthetic leg dislodged during the finals, where he crashed but later stood up and hobbled to the finish line.

Siciliano currently lives in Los Angeles after attending USC for his Master's in theater. He continues to pursue a career in acting. His credits include Sleeper Cell, Scrubs, ER, Over There, Days of Our Lives, NCIS and the SpongeBob SquarePants movie.

Between Siciliano and John Challis, this city is not suffering from any shortage of inspiring role models these days.

Pittsburgh Area Native, Paralympic On 'American Gladiators' Tonight
[WPXI]

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