AN INTRODUCTION
An Introduction to Christa and Saul
The Christa & Saul Welger Foundation was established as a tribute to these two tenacious athletes and their almost thirty years of remarkable contributions to the early days of disabled athletics. Inspired by the stories of Christa and Saul, the Welger family wants to motivate others by their example of leadership. It is the goal of the foundation to help disabled, young athletes reach their highest potential—in sport and in life.
Christa and Saul Welger elevated athletics beyond points and scorecards, to an approach and a mindset that provided encouragement and set an example for their peers. It was a way of being that extended beyond the pool, field, and basketball court to influence daily activities. Achieving victory not only in the game, but in all of life’s challenges, was the unspoken motto of Christa and Saul.
Christa Zander and Saul Welger both contracted polio at a very young age. Saul was only four months old and Christa four years, but both carried permanent polio-related disabilities throughout their lives. To combat the residual paralysis Christa experienced, she had a brace to compensate for lost motility and function. Saul underwent limb-shortening surgery, causing one of his legs to be several inches shorter than the other. He wore a lift on his shoe but still walked with a limp.
Despite the physical obstacles they faced, Christa and Saul shared a passion for athletics. Rejecting both sympathy and pity, they both refused to be limited or defined by their disabilities. Rather, they focused on their skills and found an accepting environment in disabled sports. Their shared drive to overcome their physical disadvantages is ultimately what led them to build a future together