What Is A Paralympian?
A Paralympian is an elite athlete with a disability who competes at the highest level in adaptive sports at the Paralympic Games. These Games are held alongside the Olympics and serve as their counterpart, showcasing athletes with disabilities.
Para Athlete Versus Paralympian
The terms “Para athlete” and “Paralympian” both describe athletes with disabilities; however, the terms aren’t meant to be interchangeable. “Paralympian” refers to an athlete who has competed at the Paralympic Games, while “Para athlete” describes a professional or amateur athlete who has not competed at the Paralympic Games.
Can Para Athletes Compete in the Olympics?
While some have competed in both the Olympic and Paralympic games, it is more common for disabled athletes to compete in the Paralympics. In some cases, a person's disability may not be severe enough to qualify for the Paralympics but too severe to meet the qualification standards for the Olympics, making it challenging for them to compete in either event.
What Is the Difference Between the Paralympics and the Special Olympics?
The Paralympics and Special Olympics both support athletes with disabilities but serve different groups. The Paralympics focus on elite competition for athletes with various disabilities, requiring intense training. The ultimate goal for many professional disabled athletes is to compete in the Paralympics.
The Special Olympics emphasize personal development, inclusion, and fitness for those with intellectual disabilities, focusing on personal achievement. While some athletes may move on to compete in the Paralympics, others may simply enjoy participating in adaptive sports through a local Special Olympics chapter.
Who Is a Famous Paralympic Athlete?
Well-known U.S. Paralympians include:
- Steve Serio: A friend of BraunAbility and a retired wheelchair basketball player, Serio is a five-time Paralympian and three-time gold medalist. He led Team USA to victory in three consecutive Paralympic Games.
- Ezra Frech: By age 20, Frech had already competed in the Paralympics twice. He also holds a world record for high jump in the T63 classification.
- Hunter Woodhall: A track and field athlete, Woodhall has earned multiple Paralympic medals. He's married to Olympic track and field athlete Tara Davis-Woodhall. Their shared passion for the sport and interabled relationship has captured the attention of many.
- Tatyana McFadden: McFadden has over 20 Paralympic medals. She primarily competes in track and field but has also medaled in cross-country skiing at the Winter Paralympic Games.
Famous Paralympians Around the World
Well-known Paralympians from around the world include:
- Michelle Salt: A Canadian snowboarder, Salt became the first female to represent her country in the sport at the Sochi 2014 Winter Paralympic Games.
- Daphne Hilton: Hilton was the first Australian woman to compete at the Paralympic Games. Throughout her career she competed in five sports: archery, athletics, fencing, swimming, and table tennis.
- Dylan Alcott: An Australian known for his achievements in wheelchair tennis and wheelchair basketball, Alcott is the only male athlete to achieve the Golden Slam in quad singles, which involves winning all four major tennis tournaments and the Paralympics in a single year.
- Sophie Pascoe: The youngest member of the New Zealand Paralympic team at just 15 years old during the Beijing 2008 Games, Pascoe has won 25 Paralympic medals throughout her career.
What Qualifies You as a Paralympian?
To become a Paralympian, an athlete must have a disability that affects their ability to play able-bodied sports. Additionally, an athlete must compete at the highest level of their sport to qualify for a Paralympic team. Paralympians generally have disabilities such as:
- Physical disabilities: Spinal cord injuries, cerebral palsy, limb deficiency, limb loss, leg length difference, athetosis, ataxia, hypertonia, hypotonia, short stature.
- Visual impairments: This includes athletes who are completely blind as well as those with some remaining vision.
- Intellectual disabilities: The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) defines intellectual disability broadly, including athletes who have limitations in “intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior… which affects conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills required for everyday life.”
The Paralympics
During the Paralympics, athletes from around the world gather to compete at the highest levels of adaptive sports. To learn more about the Paralympics, its history, and the variety of adaptive sports featured, read our article on the Paralympics. Additionally, explore our related article to learn about two unique Paralympic sports—boccia and goalball—which have no Olympic counterparts.
