Illustration Credit: The Globe and Mail
Thousands of athletes from around the world competed across hundreds of events showcasing strength and determination.
Harmannat Singh, Contributor
This year’s Paralympics have been an action-packed event, delivering inspiring, thrilling, and entertaining performances throughout the competition. With every athlete pushing the boundaries of what is possible in sports, the past few weeks have captivated audiences from around the globe and highlighted the power of resilience. China has been the standout nation, dominating the event with an astonishing 220 medals, including 94 golds. Great Britain and the United States gwere behind them with 124 and 105 total medals respectively.
Despite exciting performances in every event, a few have stood out. In a remarkable display of strength and precision, British archer Jodie Grinham made history by becoming the first athlete ever to win a Paralympic medal while pregnant. “It was like being a child at Christmas and getting your favorite toy,” the British archer said, full of emotion. Grinham is not new to the archery scene, nor is she new to being a Paralympic medalist, as she won a silver medal at Rio 2016. She has made her name in archery and has asserted herself as one of the most talented Paralympians, inspiring many to follow in her footsteps.
If this year’s Paralympics could be summed up into one phrase, it would be “broken records”. The United States swim team, for example, put on a show, racking up thirty medals, including ten golds, seventeen silvers, and three bronzes. Their women’s team was outstanding: Christie Raleigh Crossley broke the world record in the women’s 50-meter freestyle S10, with a time of 27.28 seconds, Morgan Stickney broke the Paralympic record in the women’s 400-meter freestyle S7, and Gia Pergolini earned consecutive gold medals.
Broken records at this year’s Paralympics were not limited to medals: Sarah Adam became the first ever woman to play for the United States wheelchair rugby team, contributing to a nail-biting 51-48 win against Canada. Having reached the finals, the US were eventually outplayed by Japan in the Gold Medal Game 48-41 in front of an electric crowd.
The Refugee Paralympic Team also won its first-ever medal, the feat being accomplished by Zakia Khudadadi securing bronze in K44 47kg taekwondo. The Afghan rose to prominence at the age of 18 after winning the African International Parataekwondo Championship in 2016 and was one of the first taekwondo practitioners in Afghanistan.
Not only are the Paralympics a world-class sporting event featuring incredibly skilled athletes, but they also serve a larger purpose: promoting awareness and acceptance of people with disabilities. With nearly 15% of the global population living with some form of disability, the Paralympics remind us that a physical or cognitive challenge in one area doesn’t define a person’s abilities in others. The strength, talent, and perseverance of individuals who continue to break barriers and redefine what it means to succeed should be celebrated to inspire a more inclusive mindset around the world.
