“Show the world the impossible is possible.”
Coming down from the high of the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which dominated my psyche over the past month, I have thought a lot about what it means to be great; not just better than others but the best you can be at something.
As I watched the Olympics, goosebumps prickled my skin as Tara Davis-Woodhall realized she had won her first gold medal and when Katie Ledecky claimed her legacy as she touched the wall in the 800m freestyle. I stood up and cheered as Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles bowed to Rebeca Andrade as she received her gold medal. These are but a few of the moments that represent the true meaning of greatness.
A few weeks later, on August 28th, I felt privileged to witness another level of greatness with the Paralympic Games. There is something far more powerful than goosebumps that overcomes me when I watch these elite athletes who have faced physical challenges, amputations, life-threatening injuries and physical traumas show up at the start line. I can sense the stories they hold within themselves. I can see the determination in their expressions. I can feel the desire to show the world how exceptional they are. That isn’t just greatness; that is awe-inspiring.
And yet, the fact remains that the Paralympics only capture a fraction of the viewership compared to the Olympics.
That needs to change.
When I think about the Paralympic movement, a song I love always pops into my head. The song is called “Impossible is Possible” by an American hip-hop duo, Black Violin ( Kevin Sylvester “Kev Marcus” and Wilner Baptiste “Wil B”). Below are the first part of the lyrics…
There’s a moment when you realize
All the things they said were lies
It’s time to open up your eyes
Cause we were made to fly
We can do anything
We’ll shine like the sun, the moon, the stars
We can go anywhere
They’ll see us no matter where we are
Cause we got the fire
We got the fire
To show the world the impossible is possible.
Digging Deep. Pushing Limits.
For me, it’s an anthem for all athletes competing in adaptive sports at all levels.
To the 4,400 Paralympians who took our breath away as they competed in Paris, you showed the world just that – the (seemingly) impossible IS possible. I know I am just one small voice, but I want you to know how meaningful it was to watch and cheer you on as you crossed your finish lines and celebrated your wins (medal or not!). I saluted you – and cried at times – as you took your place on the podium.
Watching people push their own perceived limits to crush personal bests, set new world records and accomplish unimaginable athletic feats fills me with a sense of pride – not for me, but for them. They showed up day after day, even on the hardest of days. They dug deep, even when the well was dry. They defied expectations, even when the expectations were coming from within. Now, THAT is powerful. That is also why I feel so passionate about bringing light to adaptive sports and each of the incredible athletes who have found their way on their own starting lines.
Oksana Masters is one of my favorite Paralympians to watch. She is fierce and relentless when she competes. She is also incredibly insightful and understands more about the power of sport and the athlete’s mindset than anyone I’ve encountered. As she said during an interview on Olympics.com, “The start line didn’t tell me ‘you don’t belong here.’ It’s just a start line and a chance to show the world what’s possible.”
While the flame was extinguished at the 2024 Paris Paralympics, the torch was handed to Los Angeles for the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games! And in the meantime, we can look forward to watching returning greats like Oksana Masters and Bren Hucks and rising hopefuls at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina!!
We Can Must Affect Change!
It is also time for us to start working to bring parity to the Games. While the U.S. and several other countries brought pay equity to Olympic and Paralympic medal winners in 2021, there are additional, and often significant, financial burdens for Paralympians to compete in the Games. According to a report by the Commission on the State of U.S. Olympics & Paralympics, as quoted in an article on Marketplace.org, “paralympic athletes continue to face financial barriers to participation through the extra costs of training, equipment, and travel on top of the costs faced by high-performance athletes generally.”
There is so much we can do to help.
- – Get involved in a local adaptive sports organization.
- – Start following, interacting with and celebrating your favorite Paralympians on their social channels.
- – Seek out adaptive sporting events in your area and post about them.
- – Buy the books of Paralympians who have courageously and honestly shared their stories with the world.
- – Create or donate to a fundraising campaign that supports adaptive sports. I just created my fundraising Team with Angel City Sports and can’t wait to blow past my goal!
- – I am also working on a project called 28 Dreams to interview, record and share the stories of past and future hopeful Paralympians with the world. Stories are such a powerful way to not only bring awareness to something but also connect with one another on an emotional level.
If we each do something to raise awareness in our own circles, we can create a beautiful ripple effect that drives meaningful change. Wouldn’t that be an inspiring display of what truly is possible in this world?
Yours till butter flies,
Jo
#28dreams #paralympics #adapitivesports #LA28 #paris2024
