What does it take to be a Paralympian?

A lot of athletes imagine playing at the highest level of their sport. Football players want to go to the NFL. Basketball players want to play in the NBA. I’m already playing at a high level by playing nationally for the NWBA. Where do I go from there? Well there is actually something better than being in the NWBA. If you make it to the Paralympics. What’s better than being national champions? Being the best in the world. 

    The Paralympics was founded in 1976. For those who don’t know what the Paralymics are, the Paralympic games are a series of athletic events in which disabled athletes try to prove that they are the best in their sport. They are held every four years (next games are held in Tokyo in 2020). They are held a week after the Olympics. There are several events during the Paralympics, the most popular being wheelchair basketball.  Many people assume being a world class athlete is tough, but what exactly goes into playing in the Paralympics?

    Out of hundreds of wheelchair basketball players that want to play for team USA in the Paralympics only 12 will get to put on that red white and blue jersey. That number alone should tell you how good these guys are. I know many Paralympians and all say that it’s such an amazing opportunity to play for their country. Many of these guys where dribbling a ball in their mom's belly. They live for the game. Being at that level it literally becomes your job. You get paid to play the game. Before you say oh that’s easy think about it like this. Most people can’t get themselves to work out once a week. Think about what it would be like to work out for 8 to ten hours six days a week. That’s what it takes to become that good. 

    So exactly how do get ready to become a Paralympian. First you need to get noticed by team USA coach. You have to get invited to the tryouts. I know that in between the games for the Paralympics athletes actually play in the NWBA. Some of them actually move to America to play in the NWBA then move back to their country when the Paralympics start. It’s kind of cool to see a team with a bunch of different Paralympians from different countries play together. A good example of this is the New York rolling Knicks. They have Patrick Anderson (a Canadian), and Steve Serio (American) and a bunch of others.    

    When it gets closer to the Paralympic games athletes get invited to try out for their country. Then they go to the practice facilities. This is where they will stay and train till the Paralympics. They will have everything they need to get them in the best position to win. They will get nutritionists, physical trainers, and many others to  take care of their needs. They will train for many hours a day. Many say that a ten hour day was normal. One of the reasons they train so much is because many of the athletes have never played together. They need many reps to gel together. 

    It’s a great honor to play and represent your country in the Paralympics. It takes a lot of hard work to play under the lights. You have to live for you event. It has to be your life. Training hard everyday to win. Do you think you have what it takes to be a Paralympian?