Surrounded by friends and family, Paralympian Roderick Townsend held up the key to the city of Stockton, thanking those in attendance for the recognition bestowed upon him. Townsend said his fellow Stocktonians motivate him to continue to pursue new athletic achievements.
“Everybody in this room, whether I know you or not, is a part of this journey, is a part of this story,” Townsend said. “I’m happy to be able to be here today simply because it’s something I never thought would have been possible — but definitely worth the wait.”
Townsend, a Stockton native and four-time Paralympic gold medalist, received the key to the city last week from the Stockton City Council.
The 32-year-old Paralympian, who has participated in three Paralympic Games, where he’s won a total five medals, was born with permanent nerve damage in his upper right shoulder after his umbilical cord wrapped around his neck.
During his youth, Townsend played on the varsity football team for Lincoln High School for two years, serving as their team captain in 2009. Townsend continued his athletic career while pursuing higher education, competing for two seasons on the San Joaquin Delta College track and field team from 2010 to 2012 before transferring to Boise State University in Idaho.
Townsend’s paralympic journey began in the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where he represented Team USA, winning gold medals in the Men’s High Jump and Long jump. Townsend went on to win gold in the high jump and silver in the long jump during the 2020 Tokyo Games and gold in the high jump during the recent 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.
According to the International Paralympic Committee, Townsend made his official international athletic debut during the 2015 Grand Prix in Mesa Arizona. Four months later, Townsend went on to set a world record for high jumps, jumping over a bar nearly seven feet high during the Toronto 2015 Parapan American Games.
Since then, Townsend routinely competes in the World Athletics Championship, earning five gold and five silver medals in the categories of long jump and high jump over the span of his nine year career.
Townsend says he is glad to continually receive support from the city he is proud to call home, noting that he and his family are looking to settle down in Stockton before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
“I’m just extremely appreciative and as I transition to this part of my life as I get ready the LA 2028 Olympic Games. I couldn’t be more excited,” Townsend said. “As my Wife and I continue to expand our family, we are looking for more reasons to be in Stockton.”