Paralympians: Spirit in Motion

I love the Track & Field Paralympians. They are so wonderful. Their World Championships are coming up in January, so they've been coming out every month for team camps since September. Every time that they come out, the OTC fills up and is enlivened. They're always talking, super friendly and just have this contagious attitude.

So what makes an athlete a Paralympian?? It's not easily described. The Paralympics official website describes Paralympic athletes as "having an impairment in body structures and functions that leads to a competitive disadvantage in sport." Every athlete in their program is classified into six different disability groups: amputee, cerebral palsy, visual impairment, spinal cord injuries, intellectual disability and a group which includes all those that do not fit into the aforementioned groups. So during an event, they only compete against a person w/ the same type of disability. For example, a T54 can't race against a F42. So there can be 8 shot put athletes attending the camp, but they're competing in 6-8 events.

Even though they have these disabilities, they don't let it affect them. Honestly, you begin not to notice. And they don't want you too. Competition is competition, it doesn't matter your background. That's why training here at Chula Vista is so special. We have both able-bodied and Paralympians eat, sleep and train alongside one another, using the same coaches and venues. Everyone here is working towards winning an Olympic medal. Doesn't matter if you're blind, wheelchair bound, two legs of muscle or two legs of metal.

It's their charisma and passion, not always overcoming their disabilities that make Paralympians exciting.