Moving forward in retirement with disabilities, we can enjoy learning from the Paralympics….

Kathy Patterson
Dec 19, 2021
3 min read

The Paralympics group of young athletes are not retired, but they sure are moving forward. Up until a few months ago I was not aware of the Paralympic US Team. They have the events just as the other US Team; however, they need to be qualified by several doctors. They train just like any other athlete, and they also have the added element of having a disability.

Our granddaughter was invited to be a participant for cross country skiing, using one arm and one pole because of her disability.

She skied in the World Cup in Canmore, Canada. She suggested to her mother that instead of attending, her mom should go to her brother’s ski race in Duluth, Minnesota, I asked our daughter, “did she say Grandma could not come?” The answer was, “no”. Within a few hours I had my plane ticket, hotel room, rental car and wonderful caregivers arranged for Curly.

Covid is active in Canada, which did not help to make this an easy feat. I was able to have both my going and coming Covid test done in Fountain Hills, Arizona. I had done the Arrive Canada paperwork on-line and carried my passport along with my vaccination card with me. That is a must for Canada. I could not order even coffee without showing my passport, vaccination card and wearing my mask.

Our granddaughter did not know Grandma was coming but she said she knew it was me by my cowbell and cheering…. love that girl! She came in 5th which meant she will now be competing in LILLEHAMMER 2021 Para Snow Sports World Championships, 8-23 January 2022. When they announced her name as she crossed the finish line the part that stays close in my heart was,

“Of Team USA”. After Lillehammer, selected athletes will be invited to go to the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games March 4-13, 2022. Go Team USA!!!

Another important part of the race is the number of volunteers it takes to put on an event of this magnitude. If you only view the lane markers you realize that they are placed individually and that does not include the volunteers that groom the trails, announcers and medals given without even going into booking the sites, etc. As our granddaughter noticed, “Grandma even the doctors are volunteers”, a big THANK YOU to the people that do this!

There is a medical qualification process that is very involved. I am sure all of the volunteers get more out of it than we realize. Such a great group of young adults to be working with. I spoke to some of the parents their response was, “since our son/daughter have been attending training camp they seem to focus on encouraging other disabled young adults to go forward and try some athletic endeavor.” These young adults are not only amazing in athletics but also in compassion. Watching them fall in the snow and may not have the limbs we do they just get up and do it all over again. The Paralympians are giving back to other young adults with disabilities.

All these athletes are dedicated and come into this with some form of a disability. When I saw the sit skiers, along with the vision impaired skiers it gave me a new meaning of the commitment these athletes give to be part of Team USA. Hats off to the Team USA as they journey to Norway to compete in the World Champions!

Through their efforts we have learned to keep Moving Forward with Disabilities in Retirement. Their smiles and attitude say it all.

Check out the following websites:

Collin Cameron strikes gold at 2021 Para Nordic World Cup in Canmore - Huntsville Doppler (doppleronline. Lillehammer 2021: Top 10 athletes to watch (paralympic.org)

Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games | IPC