Today, on Labor Day I honor the value of working with my dedicated clients, and I’m reflecting on shared passion for strength and health that fuels commitment, and I acknowledge the achievements and progress they’ve made. We do it together and I love my work.
The world-wide admiration for Paralympic athletes and their coaches this year (with with much more media coverge) is so well-deserved. All 22 sports are being broadcast this year, instead of only 19 in 2020 Their passion is evident and their hard work is being celebrated. Watch through September 8th.
Have you seen or heard about the Paralympic TikTok?
The official Paralympics TikTok account has grown from three million to more than 4.6-million followers in just the last year, while its YouTube channels boasts a whopping 921,000 subscribers.
It’s one of the fastest growing social media accounts: Official Paralympics TikTok account draws backlash and praise for edgy, humorous content: ‘This account is unhinged’ Watch the video with Matt Stutzman — AKA the “Armless Archer” (driving a car, and more armless things…) and Wheelchair Rugby Player Chuck Aoki.
Paralympians have a sense of humor, and they’re really happy that the event is getting more attention this year.
Then there’s the question whether we want to watch Paralympics just for the drama, the back stories – how did they get like that? What was the illness or accident? Instead of for the sports and the athleticism. In an article in the UK, including an impactful, disturbing ad the slogans get sharply to the point:
“She’s doing so well, considering…”
“He’s incredible for someone like that!”
“It’s so brave.”
These Team USA women are giving it all and deserve humongous props for every reason.
Tatyana McFadden born with spina bifida is the fastest woman in the world.
Tatyana McFadden spent the first six years of her life in a Russian orphanage with virtually nothing, not even a wheelchair. Paralyzed from the waist down, and with no other way to move, she learned to walk on her hands to keep up with the other children. Little did she know that the powerful arms and hands she began to develop as a small child would someday carry her around the globe as one of the world’s greatest athletes.
Sarah Adam, the first woman ever on the Paralympian Rugby Squad
“She has fit in perfectly,” co-team captain Chuck Aoki said. “There’s no other way to put it. She has just embraced her role as a player on the team. I have been so, so impressed with what Sarah’s been able to do.”
Susannah Scaroni Gold Medalist hit by a driver in 2021
Two-time Paralympic medalist Susannah Scaroni was one of the first to qualify for the U.S. Paralympic team across all sports, with a third-place finish at the NYC Marathon this November. Paris will be Scaroni’s fourth Paralympic appearance—an opportunity that she is immensely grateful for after surviving a car accident back in 2021 that fractured her spine. The accident has since given the Tekoa, Washington native a new perspective, purpose, and appreciation for life.
5-time medalist Mallory Weggemann swims at Paralympic Games for first time as mother
“You better believe I’m going to be the best mom that I can be to this child, but at the end of the day, I’m also going to fight to sit atop the Paralympic podium in Paris in 2024,” Weggemann said. “To be able to share that as a family, it’s just this feeling of complete and utter joy of what that moment would be.”
Weggemann and her husband, Jay Snyder, welcomed their first baby, Charlotte Ann, on March 16, 2023. But what made the birth so heartwarming is that she competed at the 2022 Paris Swimming National Championships in Charlotte, North Carolina, at 26 weeks pregnant.
“When I got behind the blocks, little one decided they’re going to get moving and grooving and I was like, ‘Let’s go, let’s go show some people what we can do,’” Weggemann told NBC about the flutters she got in her belly before competing in the 50m butterfly event.
Post script – give this a listen or read the transcript of the horrific shark attach and the recovery:
How Paralympic swimmer Ali Truwit recovered from a shark attack
Are you watching any favorite athletes or events?
2 Responses
I love these stories about brave, gutsy women. Thank u.
Happy you enjoyed reading! Yes, they sure are gutsy!