Photo: Courtesy
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McKenzie Coan,Swimming,23
U.S. Olympic Committee
What does it mean to you to compete in the Paralympics?
What has been the hardest moment in your journey to the Paralympics?
In my journey, the hardest part has been training through the broken bones that I routinely experience as a result of my condition, osteogensis imperfecta. Throughout my life, I’ve broken somewhere between 80 to 100 bones. People along the way have told me that I’m too fragile to compete or pursue my dreams, but with the support of my family and coaches, I’ve always found a way to push past the fractures and pain to reach and achieve at the highest level of Paralympic sport, sometimes competing with broken bones. These hardships, as a result of my condition, have made me not only a stronger competitor but also a stronger human being.
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McKenzie Coan, Swimming, 23
What advice would you give other young athletes in your sport?
If I could tell young athletes one thing it would be that the only limits that exist are the ones you put in front of yourself, and that you should never allow someone else to dictate what you’re capable of. As long as you are willing to work hard, persevere through adversity and pour your heart into your craft, then there’s nothing that you can’t achieve in life.
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Megan Blunk, Wheelchair Basketball, 29
Courtesy
But I am thankful for that year because what I soon learned was that all of that pain I was feeling was simply fueling the fire inside of me that was just waiting to be lit. The fire that I would need to overcome any and all of the stigma, the stereotypes and, above all, the self-doubt that I had in-fact been fighting my entire life, long before the accident, that self-doubt that turned out to be the one and only disability in my life.
When I first learned about wheelchair basketball, I knew right away that it was my second chance at life … and when I then learned about the Paralympics … it became my light at the end of that very dark tunnel.
04of 10Megan Blunk, Wheelchair Basketball, 29CourtesyWhat are you looking forward to at the games?Before I think about what I am looking forward to at the games, I have to think about and do what it takes to make the Paralympic team. But if I do make the team … I will be looking forward to, once again, showing myself exactly what I am capable of when I put my mind to it. I am looking forward to pushing myself to be my very best and to face my fears at the highest level.What advice would you give other young athletes in your sport?The advice I would give other young athletes in my sport would be simply to never give up. I would tell them that even if you don’t end up where you thought you would be, the journey will teach you so much about yourself, about others and about life in ways you never could have imagined and all of those times you feel like giving up … if you push through, you will be rewarded every time.
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What are you looking forward to at the games?
Before I think about what I am looking forward to at the games, I have to think about and do what it takes to make the Paralympic team. But if I do make the team … I will be looking forward to, once again, showing myself exactly what I am capable of when I put my mind to it. I am looking forward to pushing myself to be my very best and to face my fears at the highest level.
The advice I would give other young athletes in my sport would be simply to never give up. I would tell them that even if you don’t end up where you thought you would be, the journey will teach you so much about yourself, about others and about life in ways you never could have imagined and all of those times you feel like giving up … if you push through, you will be rewarded every time.
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Jessica Long, Swimming, 27
Peter Bick
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I am looking forward to the excitement I feel when I step up on the blocks and get ready to race. There’s this feeling that settles over me of all the hard work being done and leading to this; it’s now trusting the process and swimming my heart out. I’m also looking forward to the ongoing support from my family and friends who are already making travel plans to come to Tokyo so they can cheer me on. Knowing they are watching gives me that little push to touch the wall first.
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Oksana Masters, Road Cycling, 30
Staying healthy, physically and mentally during injuries has been challenging on my Paralympics journey. One of the biggest struggles is balancing my Nordic season and summer season, and competing at both at high levels. I am lucky to have a great support team behind me from my family, to my sponsors, who help make it possible to be a winter and summer athlete.
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Taylor Baucom/The Players’ Tribune
Hopefully lots of sushi and the chance soak in the culture of Japan. I’m really looking forward to representing my country and my sport to the best of my abilities and inspiring more people to get out and ride bikes.
The most important thing is have fun and enjoy it. There’s so much freedom in riding a bike. there will be challenging days with either equipment malfunctions, flat tires or things beyond your control. Stay focused on what you can control and maximize those moments.
09of 10David Brown, Track and Field, 26CourtesyWhat does it mean to you to compete in the Paralympics?It’s a great honor and privilege. Not everybody has an opportunity to represent their country. If I had my sight, I would be in the military, but as a Paralympian I can still wear the red, white and blue, and go out there and fight for my country in a different way through sport.What has been the hardest moment in your journey to the Paralympics?The most difficult part of my journey as a Paralympian has been to overcome myself and my own nerves. This year, I’m competing in an event that I haven’t raced on a major stage in three years – the 400-meters – so I’m pretty nervous about that. I’m having to overcome my own nerves and be able to push through and not let my own self stand in my way.
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David Brown, Track and Field, 26
It’s a great honor and privilege. Not everybody has an opportunity to represent their country. If I had my sight, I would be in the military, but as a Paralympian I can still wear the red, white and blue, and go out there and fight for my country in a different way through sport.
The most difficult part of my journey as a Paralympian has been to overcome myself and my own nerves. This year, I’m competing in an event that I haven’t raced on a major stage in three years – the 400-meters – so I’m pretty nervous about that. I’m having to overcome my own nerves and be able to push through and not let my own self stand in my way.
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I’m looking forward to the competition. I’m a competitor so I look forward to competing, representing my country again, wearing the red, white, and blue and hopefully bringing home another gold medal.
The advice that I would give would be to not give up on yourself. Not everybody is going to have the same goal, dream or drive that you have but as long as you have that passion and purpose, you can push through. Not everybody is going to see your dream or your vision but it’s up to you to see it and bring it to fruition.
source: people.com
