Paralympics And Disabled Athleticism

It is still one of my favourite lines from the show 'The Good Doctor'. After a surgical injury resulting in her spinal cord being compressed and leaving her in a wheelchair, Dr. Audrey Lim months later frustratingly exclaims to her colleagues:

"I'm so tired of having to train like an Olympic athlete just to be able to get on and off the toilet again everyday!"

— Dr. Audrey Lim in 'The Good Doctor'

YES!! Every time I hear this line I can't help but raise my arms up in the air and yell these words out loud as though she just spoke the very truth to what every person in a wheelchair thinks everyday!! YES!!

That said, I also do truly love my daily ritual of retreating down to my basement gym where I'll workout for a couple hours with one of my old records spinning on the turn table. Switching it up and sometimes mixing my activities between Thera-bands, free weights, machines, and cardio... this space has kind of become a holy ground for me in my home.

Exercise for a disabled person is most definitely a must in maximizing the abilities we have. But it can also be a profound way to nurture our minds, bodies, and souls. It is important to recognize that the inspiration for this has to come from deep within ourselves and not by any expectations put upon us in the world.

I don't think this can anywhere else be truly seen more then in the athletes who perform in the Paralympic Games. This past week I have been mesmerized by the athletic prowess of Zak Madell, Mike Whitehead, and the others on Canada's wheelchair rugby team as they compete in Paris's 2024 Paralympic Games. Today they placed 6th in the world after loosing to France in the Playoff Championship game. But coming back several times after a deficit, they kept it to being within 3 points in the end. The speed they showed on the court, strength to push through game after game, and skill in strategic maneuvering and playing, these are athletes motivated for a passion to pursue the best of their abilities at all times!

Physical training is not the only challenge these athletes face when preparing for the games. It was back in the mid 90's that I competed in Canadian Wheelchair Rugby and besides training for the actual sport, I also had to deal with the stresses of inaccessible traveling challenges, health needs as a quadriplegic, the exorbitant costs on a strained budget, balancing training time with work, and the loneliness of leaving loved ones behind when playing on the road.

These athletes also do not get the corporate sponsorships other more well known Olympic athletes do. They rely on the supports of private donors and personal sacrifices for the sake of their love for the game. They may not look it, but Paralympian's simply tower over the obstacles that most regular Olympians face... in my opinion.

We disabled athletes must first always realize that our greatest opponent is not the person we face on the field, it is the opponent we face within ourselves. We are not just pushing our physical abilities despite a defiant body, we must learn to ignore the inner voice that tells us we're not worth it; and the outer voices of a ablest culture that tells us we can't do it.

Secondly, we can't do it alone. The greatest strength today's Paralympian's have is recognizing the strength that comes from a healthy and supportive community. Set goals not only by ourselves but also with the guidance and supports of others who know the challenges we face and share in the passions we have for disabled athleticism — coaches, trainers, therapists, doctors, dieticians, and fellow athletes. We can seek those communities out through organizations like the Spinal Cord Injury Canada and the Canadian Wheelchair Sports Association.

I hope you get to take in some of the Paralympic Games throughout the rest of this week. If you did not know, it is all being streamed for free both Live and in Replay on the CBC Gem App and website HERE.

What sports are you watching this Paralympic Games?

Who are the standout athletes for you?

Drop me a comment below and let me know what you think of these amazing athletes!!