In our latest thought piece, Fight for Peace Creative Lead and Inclusion Working Group member, Kayla Troy shares her perspective on how the Paralympics has inspired her to push through her limits, while reflecting on what more can be done to amplify the inspirational stories of Paralympic athletes.

“I’m not much of a fan of the Olympics, I prefer the hype and build up to the UFC (thanks to my colleagues at Fight for Peace), but after coming across a video on Instagram of 17-year-old Sheetal Devi landing the perfect bullseye, and coming away with a bronze medal in archery for her India team, I was left thinking about the importance of amplifying the stories of athletes with disabilities as a way to celebrate, inspire, and encourage all of us to become the best versions of ourselves. 

The video shows young Sheetal using only her feet to line up the perfect shot, followed by the crowd going insane, and I was almost brought to tears.

But why was I so surprised by this grand success? And what is it that made me feel so emotional when watching Sheetal secure the win?

I guess it got me thinking about what it took for Sheetal to get there, along with all the inspiring Paralympics athletes who joined her on the big stage.

As a person without a disability who relies on regular exercise for improved mental and physical health, I know some of the everyday challenges that come with staying motivated  to get up and do the work, especially when our bodies are tired or injured.

When I was training in muay thai regularly, I often became discouraged by the feeling of defeat that came with injuries. At one point, it felt like I was constantly sitting out of sessions, whether it was due to a torn hamstring, injured rib, aching fist, or just general fatigue. The list goes on. But these things were temporary.

Still, I’d convince myself I wasn’t able to train for however many weeks it took for those injuries to recover.

Reflecting on this in the aftermath of the Paralympics, I think about all the athletes who have faced adversity, perhaps their entire lives, or have adjusted and adapted to changes their bodies are experiencing due to a health condition or serious injury. 

I imagine Paralympians have to dig a lot deeper to achieve their sporting goals and make it to the Olympics for a chance to represent their nation. 

I can only imagine some of the barriers faced by these athletes; something as simple as a wheelchair ramp may not be implemented in public gyms or leisure centres, and classes may not generally cater to those with disabilities or additional needs. These are just a couple of examples, all of which contribute to my appreciation of the grit and determination that comes with a Paralympian’s success. 

I guess, some people haven’t known any other way, and so their ability to adapt to their chosen sport is innate. Perhaps they don’t think about their disabilities, perhaps they couldn’t imagine their lives any other way… but as an outsider looking in, I can only watch in awe.

The prefix ‘para’ means ‘alongside’ in Greek, and so the idea is for the Paralympic Games to exist alongside the Olympic Games, but I can’t help but think we’re still in a place of looking at these games as secondary to the ‘main event’. 

I haven’t been receiving as many news updates, or seeing as many videos on my Instagram feed about Paralympic victories as I was a couple of weeks prior, which may also be why Sheetal’s performance stood out to me so much. I just wasn’t seeing enough of these roaring victories, and so it wasn’t normalised in my mind.

I can only continue to wonder – where is the Olympics-style energy our Paralympians so deserve? 

As the world progresses and continues to recognise the importance of inclusivity for those who are often misunderstood and underrepresented, I can only hope that storytellers all over the world recognise Paralympic athletes as ‘newsworthy’, that prominent sporting bodies advocate for a world where sport is accessible to all, and that gyms and coaches show up to empower and encourage disabled athletes to conquer their dreams and goals in the same way would athletes without disabilities.

I’ve been inspired by those Paralympic stories I’ve encountered in the past few weeks, which have pushed me to step in the gym on the days I don’t want to, take the stairs on the tube, go for that run, and most importantly, acknowledge that no matter how hard it feels, there’s always a way to push beyond your limits, because there’s always more in the tank.”