Park City, UTAH, March 05, 2002  -  Chris Waddell, a five-time Paralympic gold medallist, wants America watching as he rockets downhill at speeds approaching 65 miles per hour at the 2002 Winter Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah from March 7-16.

Waddell has a history of getting what he wants, including more than 20 Paralympic and World Championship medals. He carried an Olympic torch and lit a cauldron in Salt Lake City on February 7, and in 1998 was voted one of People magazine's "50 Most Beautiful People." Among the world's best athletes, he is passionately committed to bringing awareness and parity to the arena of disabled sports.

Hartford Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG), is a leading disability insurer, and has long known the power of Waddell. He is a member of The Hartford Team Ability?, world-class athletes that share The Hartford's focus on abilities. Team members educate American businesses and communities about what people with disabilities can achieve.

Waddell says of his role on Team Ability, "As disabled athletes or business people, we are most visible on the hill, track or at the office. The Hartford recognizes the value of our visibility and our contribution to all aspects of life, and I'm proud to have this venue for furthering our mutual philosophy." He shares The Hartford's belief that people want to lead active, independent and productive lives. His example embodies the philosophy.

Nominated to this year's U.S. Paralympic Alpine Ski Team, Waddell focuses on his abilities, as well as those of his able-bodied counterparts. He says, "I am so proud to represent America," he says. "Recent history has reminded us that we are united by our similarities, not our differences. As world class athletes, we all share the same commitment and make the same sacrifices in hopes of achieving that one moment of glory."

Once a skier expected to compete on the U.S. Ski Team, a skiing accident at age 19 paralyzed Waddell from the waist down. Precisely 362 days later, Waddell took back his body and the mountain with a monoski. He explains, "Sports allowed me to reclaim pride in my body. Before the accident, I related to my legs. My training was based on my lower body. Suddenly that was taken away from me." Forced to learn to ski again, his persistence and passion for the sport took over, and fourteen days later, he was racing again.

Waddell's first Paralympic success came at the 1992 Albertville Paralympics, where he took two silvers. He completely dominated the 1994 Lillehammer Winter Paralympic Games, winning all four alpine skiing gold medals. At the 1996 Summer Paralympic Games in Atlanta, he smashed the American wheelchair track record in the 800 meters. The 1998 Nagano Paralympics saw Waddell take home gold in the down hill and silvers in the slalom and Super G. He won a silver medal in the 200 meter sprint at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics.

Waddell will compete in four races in Salt Lake: two technical events, the slalom and giant slalom, and two speed events, the super giant slalom and downhill.

The 2002 Winter Paralympics Opening Ceremonies take place March 7 and will be rebroadcast by NBC at 2 p.m. EST on March 9. Also beginning on March 9 and continuing through March 16, A & E Network will provide highlights of the Paralympics from 6 p.m. (EST) to 7 p.m. (EST), followed by a recap at 12 p.m. (EST) the following day. Hosting A & E's coverage will be Harry Smith and Joan Lunden.

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The Hartford (NYSE: HIG) is one of the nation's largest insurance and financial services companies, with 2001 revenues of $15.1 billion. As of Dec. 31, 2001, The Hartford had assets of $181.2 billion and shareholders' equity of $9.0 billion. The company is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; commercial property and casualty insurance; and reinsurance. The Hartford's Internet address is www.thehartford.com.