Massachusetts teen sets records and serves her community while earning 2025 S’NS Junior Athlete of the Year
At just 4 years old, Madelyn Wilson attended the Boston Marathon with her family. Watching the wheelchair division roll past sparked something in her that ultimately changed her life. That experience led her parents to gift her a racing wheelchair for her fifth birthday, launching what has become a remarkable athletic journey.
Now, 12 years later, Wilson is the 2025 SPORTS ‘N SPOKES (S’NS) Junior Athlete of the Year, a recognition that places her among an elite group of young athletes, many of whom have gone on to the Paralympics.
Breaking Barriers & Records
Wilson’s competitive résumé reads like a seasoned athlete despite her young age. Born with spina bifida, Wilson hasn’t let that define her. She holds the USA National Record in the U17 women’s para 3,000-meter event (9 minutes and 52 seconds), an achievement that came after intense competition pushed her beyond her comfort zone.
“Having competition out there always motivates me,” she says. “I feel like that’s always one of the most important things for me.”
Her record-setting performance wasn’t just luck — it was the result of preparation and mental focus. The day before the record-breaking race, Wilson had run a mock 3,000 on her home track, clocking around 10:20.
“I was like, OK, if I can run that and maintain that pace, strategically that’ll be pretty good,” she remembers.
At age 7, she became the youngest female athlete ever to complete the Falmouth Road Race. Wilson has claimed Massachusetts State Female Para Champion titles in multiple events and became the first women’s para athlete to compete at the 2024 New Balance Nationals Indoor championships.
A Family Affair
Behind Wilson’s success is her father, Carl Wilson, who serves as her primary coach. Since her team, the Navigators out of New Jersey, is not local, Carl has stepped into the role, riding his bike alongside her during training sessions.
“He’s basically like my coach,” Wilson says. “He’s been instrumental for me, and he never pushes me to go to a level that I never really thought I was going to get to.”
Their training routine includes three to four sessions during the week, with both weekend days dedicated to workouts.
“I really just like the speed. I just like to go fast,” she says.
Beyond The Track
While racing remains her primary passion, Wilson participates in Nordic skiing, water skiing, swimming and sled hockey. These cross-training activities make her stronger for her primary sport.
“The sled hockey, when you go to pull the sticks along the ice, that makes my arms stronger,” she says.
At Notre Dame Academy in Worcester, Wilson balances athletics with academic studies and community involvement. She serves as a student ambassador and maintains strong grades while pursuing interests in science, particularly biology. At this year’s The Hartford Nationals, Wilson achieved a personal best in shot put (4.53 meters) and earned second place in discus and her preferred 5,000-meter race.
A Heart For Service
Wilson volunteers with Lasagna Love, a nonprofit that connects neighbors through homemade meal delivery. Over the past year and a half, she has made approximately 75 lasagnas for families in need.
“People that are a little less fortunate, we make lasagna for them in our own houses, and then we deliver them,” Wilson says.
She also plays flute in her school’s jazz and instrumental ensembles, is learning American Sign Language inspired by a deaf friend, serves on the Charlton Public Library Student Advisory Board, and works as a children’s counselor at Leicester Church of Christ Vacation Bible School.
Dreams Of Boston & Beyond
Wilson’s biggest dream is to win the Boston Marathon women’s wheelchair race — the same race that inspired her journey over a decade ago.
“I also want to try out for the Paralympics in LA [Los Angeles] in 2028,” she says.
To achieve these dreams, Wilson knows the formula: “Training hard, training every day. You don’t want to take that many days off, but you just keep going, keep working toward your goals.”
Learning From The Best
Wilson’s biggest inspiration comes from Paralympic legend Tatyana McFadden, whom she first met at the Falmouth Road Race when she was 6 years old. McFadden offered to race Wilson one lap, which Wilson won.
“She’s always driven me forward. She’s one of the greatest that there is,” Wilson says.
Looking Ahead
As Wilson prepares for her junior year of high school, she approaches both good days and setbacks with perspective.
“Everyone has bad days sometimes. You don’t set records all the time,” she says. “It’s just something that happens with everybody, and I think in life you just have to deal with it.”
The $2,500 that comes with the Junior Athlete of the Year award will go toward a new racing wheelchair, as her current chair is borrowed.
For young athletes just starting their journey, Wilson emphasizes taking it slow with equipment purchases and recognizing their unique gifts.
“Take advantage of what you have because everybody’s gifted with something. You just have to find that, and people find that at different ages,” she says.
Wilson joins a distinguished group of young athletes who have gone on to greater achievements. With her combination of natural talent, dedication and community spirit, she’s ready to write the next chapter of her story with the same philosophy that has driven her success: Keep moving forward, stay dedicated and never stop going fast.
To nominate an outstanding young athlete for Junior Athlete of the Year, visit sportsnspokes.com between February and June 15.