City Council declares October 6 as Chaz Davis Day

Davis earned his Bachelor’s in degree in Criminal Justice and Psychology from the University of Hartford and a Master’s degree in Social Work from the University of Denver. During his freshman year, he began experiencing loss of vision and was later diagnosed with Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy.



In order to obtain a spot at the Rio Games, Davis had to compete at the 2016 U.S Paralympic Team Trials where he earned a gold medal for the 1500m and 5000m Track & Field events. Later that year, he ran his debut marathon at the United States Association for Blind Athletes (USABA) where he set a new American record for his division.



In 2018, Davis ran the 122nd Boston Marathon as part of the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI) charity group called “Team with a Vision,” an international team of runners whose goal is to raise awareness and funding for rehabilitation services, support groups, and assistive technology for individuals who are experiencing loss of vision and blindness. Davis now works with the organization as an adjustment counselor and as the coordinator for “Team with a Vision.”



Council President Pro Tempore O’Malley presented Davis with a resolution, declaring October 6, 2021 as “Chaz Davis Day” in order to celebrate his personal achievements in track and field as well as his dedication to individuals experiencing loss of vision and blindness.