Paralympians share their love for the Paralympic Games
Whilst athletes are getting ready to make their mark, find out what the Games mean for some of these Paralympians
TSUCHIDA Wakako, Japan, athletics
Represented Japan seven times in Winter and Summer Games and will be making her Tokyo 2020 appearance in her third sport
The Paralympic Games are the most valuable event in the world where athletes demonstrate their limitless possibilities.
“The Paralympic Games are the most valuable event in the world where athletes demonstrate their limitless possibilities. It is an opportunity where people with impairments can make a challenge, and the experience of participating will help you grow as a person,” Tsuchida told Tokyo 2020.
“My point of view of the world expanded because I found a sport through which I could express myself and aim for the Paralympic Games. If you believe in yourself and take a challenge on a world scale, you are taking your first step to explore your unknown possibilities. From there, you will feel a ripple effect taking place. So it’s important to ‘take a challenge!'”
Ellie Robinson, Great Britain, Para swimming
Rio gold medallist in S6 50m butterly and bronze medallist in S6 100m freestyle
The [Paralympic Games have] given me a huge sense of identity.
“[Paralympic Games have] given me a huge sense of identity. It's kind of what I'm known for and it's given me a platform to speak about things that I'm passionate about, about labels and categories in the progression of the Paralympic Games. It's given me a real voice.”
“When we go to Italy and Australia, they love really love their swimming, so I think naturally, because they're able bodied swimmers they get so much attention. But when para swimming arrives, and when the public turns their attention to para swimming, they get behind it just as much as they do their able-bodied swimming. And I think that's something that around the world are really starting to see.”
READ MORE: Ellie Robinson: Living in the moment
Dylan Alcott, Australia, Wheelchair Tennis
Rio 2016 quad single champion and currently world no 1
Once every four years people with disability are the stars.
"Once every four years people with disability are the stars. People say, 'why not have the Paralympics and Olympics combined?' I'm like, 'when Usain Bolt was running, I fully appreciate everyone will watch him and not me. But guess what? When I'm on, we're the stars, right?'"
READ MORE: Dylan Alcott: I want to get to the Paralympic Games
TOKAIRIN Dai, Japan, Para swimming
World record holder Para swimmer in SM14 men's 200m individual medley, who will make his Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020
The beauty of the Paralympic Games is that each athlete... do their very best and stretch their potential to the maximum.
“The beauty of the Paralympic Games is that each athlete, with their distinctive impairment and unique aspiration, do their very best and stretch their potential to the maximum. I have reaffirmed that the real value of an athlete is to reach their maximum potential,” Tokairin told Tokyo 2020.
"My greatest focus is to race in my own style to the maximum and give my all. I’d like to swim with appreciation in my heart for all the support I have received."
READ MORE: TOKAIRIN Dai: My notebook of positivity leads to success
Ntando Mahlangu, South Africa, Athletics
Rio 2016 silver medallist in T42 200m
If I didn’t have the Paralympics, I don’t think I would be where I am today.
“If I didn’t have the Paralympics, I don’t think I would be where I am today. It helped me to push for my dreams," Mahlagu told Paralympic.org last year.
“I’m representing a billion people. It’s amazing. I’m representing my people, I’m representing my tribe, I’m representing other tribes.
"You know I think one thing we must take out of this is that when you give people with a disability the opportunities, when you give them that, anything is possible."
READ MORE: Rising Phoenix star Ntando Mahlangu: Without the Paralympics, I wouldn’t be where I am today
TOMITA Uchu, Japan, swimming
Ranked no 2 in the world in 400m freestyle and 100m butterfly in S11
The Paralympic Games provides a setting for athletes to tackle out-of-the-ordinary challenges.
"In my view, the Paralympic Games provides a setting for athletes to tackle out-of-the-ordinary challenges and to express their potential through sports," Tomita told Tokyo 2020.
"As such, merely being an athlete who can swim fast is not enough for me. Unless I can help the public understand what it means to have
an impairment and exert some kind of impact on society, it would be meaningless for me to be a Paralympian. I believe the real significance of the Paralympics lies in pursuing such goals.
"The Paralympic Games is currently something we “ask” people to watch and cheer on. This is not how it should be. The Paralympics should be a “must-see” event for everyone."
READ MORE: TOMITA Uchu: Conveying the significance of the Paralympics
Nicky Nieves, USA, Sitting Volleyball
Part of the team that led the USA to winning its first gold medal in women's sitting volleyball
I am the first one in my family that got to go in the Games.
"I come from a family of athletes and I am the first one in my family that got to go in the Games - the first one in my family that got a medal, the first one I've seen to be an Afro Latina to bring home a medal," she told Paralympic.org.
"It's so many things jam packed in one."
READ MORE: Nicky Nieves: 'Mental health and sport go hand in hand'
Mckenzie Coan, USA, Para swimmer
Three-time Rio 2016 gold medallist
I think that there's even more meaning behind the Games this year.
“I think that there's even more meaning behind the Games this year, because I think the world needs something to bring everyone together and I think we all need something to smile about,” Coan told Tokyo 2020.
"I think Tokyo is going to do something so special even amid a devastating worldwide pandemic, I still think that these will be an incredible Games."
ZHU Zhenzhen, People's Republic of China, wheelchair tennis
First Chinese wheelchair tennis player to compete at the Australian Open
I love embodying the Paralympic spirit of understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play.
"I love being an athlete and having the responsibility to make it possible for everyone to play the sport. I love embodying the Paralympic spirit of understanding, friendship, solidarity and fair play and transmitting these values in my everyday life,” Zhu told Paralympic.org
"I'm working on promoting wheelchair tennis. I hope that more people with disabilities in China can start playing this sport, although we are just in the planning stage and implementation is difficult."
Antonios Tsapatakis, Greece, Para swimming
2009 European Champion and silver medalist in the 2015 World Championships
As a Paralympian I can educate people.
“As a Paralympian I can educate people. When I go to schools to give speeches, children ask, ‘How can you swim?’ And I tell them I swim with my hands and show videos of my races," he told Paralympic.org
“If you have a goal, just go for it, nothing or no-one can stop you. This is freedom… willing it makes you free.”
READ MORE: Antonios Tsapatakis soul-searching for Paralympic gold
