Spirit and Discipline

Source: Wikimedia_XX1088_-Seoul_Paralympic_Games_Athletics_Australian_Wheelchair_Athlete_Close_up-1_of_2-_Scan_By Don Worley – Australian Paralympic Committee, CC BY-SA 4.0,

The Paralympic games are an example of how amazing and inspiring humans can be. It represents the pinnacle of athletic competition, resilience and strength. Sports people with disabilities are given an opportunity to showcase their exceptional skill every four years in these Games.

People come together from across the world to compete or see how Paralympians make their way from base level to the peak of self-mastery and excellence. And they also wonder about the success story behind every player. After all, it is no small feat to come to one of the biggest sports competitions in the world and leave behind a legacy.

Understanding the Sports

The Olympics and the Paralympics are two of the biggest sports competitions in the world. The only difference between the two is that while participants of the Olympics are able-bodies, the participants in the Paralympics are affected by physical or intellectual disabilities.

The Paralympics were introduced with the aim to help soldiers who had been wounded in World War II and the main purpose was to provide rehabilitating sports for them. This eventually turned into a recreational activity with friendly competition. And finally, took on the form of the modern Paralympics. The first Paralympic games were held in 1960 and have been a popular sports competition ever since then.

Today several editions of the Paralympics have taken place, with Paris being the latest city to host them in 2024. This was the first time the sports had been held outside stadium and was immensely popular. But another important difference that we need to know about is that the Olympic games get much more funding in comparison to the Paralympics. It poses an important question about the integrity of the games and has caused several athletes to strive for equal treatment.

Tailored Training

The presence of a vast array of sports in the Paralympics gives rise to the need of a tailored training program so that it can cater to the diverse requirements of every athlete out there:

One of the foremost components of a training program is strength and conditioning training. In case of athletes with mobility impairments, adaptive techniques need to be built in order to develop core muscles, arm strength, and endurance in their upper bodies. This has especially been noted in the case of Paralympians like Tatyana McFadden, an 18-time Paralympic medalist in wheelchair racing, who has demonstrated very good upper body strength and endurance in all of their performances. Athletes with visual impairments also benefit from this because it helps them achieve balance as well as agility.
The next step is to take care of developing sport specific techniques. For example, athletes who are going to swim need to perfect that technique for that sport. Athletes, who are going to run, need to work towards precise coordination and discipline required to compete. And athletes, who are competing as a team with other players, need to learn how to position themselves and develop their reflexes.
Mental training is also very important because stress, anxiety, self-doubt, trauma, and societal prejudice can become a hurdle. Athletes should have sessions with certified sports psychologists in order to understand such problems and build mental toughness and coping mechanisms for combating these.

In their training programs, athletes are taught to develop a series of technical, psychological, physical, and practical skills, in order to perform well in their respective games. This means that the training process is just as vigorous and important for the development of the athlete as the game is. There are several factors that also affect the overall performance of these athletes:

Researchers believe that parents play a very pivotal role in this process and can exert great influence on their kids, in relation to the sport. What they say, teach, and how they react has a prominent impact on their child’s relationship with the sport.
Another key factor is the psychological aspect which includes qualities like self-confidence, concentration, stress, anxiety, and motivation. An athlete’s control on all of these properties speaks dozens about their ability to achieve their objectives and perform well.
The coach of a disabled athlete also needs to be knowledgeable about their rehabilitation, skill level, and safety, because they also have relevant influence on this process.

Accessibility and Training

The obstacles in their path to achieve their goals are accessibility and inclusivity.

Despite the popularization of the game, there is still a lack of adequate training facilities and coaching supports for Paralympian athletes. The gap is wider in regions which are less developed. In many cases, athletes have to travel far away from home just to find a specialized training center. Inclusivity is also an issue but many new committees and organizations have taken it up on themselves to improve the situation.

The International Paralympic Committee has been trying really hard to provide sufficient resources and increase access in the Paralympic training facilities. They also partner up with sporting organizations and many sports programs to expand for these athletes. It has also partnered up with WHO to highlight the impact of these games on sports as well as assistive technology for the disabled. The “Equipped for Equity” program has been introduced for this very purpose and advocate for global action against insufficient funding, planning, and resources.

Resources

Understanding the Sports

Vritika. (2017, April 25). Difference between Olympics and Paralympics | Olympics vs Paralympics. Differencebetween.info. https://www.differencebetween.info/difference-between-olympics-and-paralympics
‌Sport, B. (2024, February 28). Paris 2024: All you need to know for Paralympic Games. BBC Sport; BBC Sport. https://www.bbc.com/sport/disability-sport/68215699

Tailored Training

How Disabled Athletes Train For The Paralympic Games. (2016, September 5). Technogym – Gym Equipment and Fitness Solutions for Home and Business. https://www.technogym.com/gb/wellness/how-disabled-athletes-train-for-the-paralympic-games/
‌Stillman, C. (2024, June 3). What Does Paralympic Strength Training Look Like? | TrainHeroic. TrainHeroic. https://www.trainheroic.com/blog/what-does-paralympic-strength-training-look-like/#:~:text=Using%20Adaptive%20Equipment,equipment%20across%20the%20Paralympic%20Games.
Ilic, N. (2021, May 18). How a Paralympian Actually Trains for the Olympics. Men’s Health Magazine Australia. https://menshealth.com.au/how-a-paralympian-actually-trains-for-the-olympics/
‌Manuel Rodríguez Macías, Javier, F., & Tomás, M. (2022). The Sport Training Process of Para-Athletes: A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(12), 7242–7242. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127242

Accessibility and Training