SOME remarkable stories and performances have come out of the Rio Paralympics but I wonder if we really understand what we’re seeing there
For many of Team GB’s paralympians, this glitzy, well-covered time in Rio is just the icing on the cake. The real work has been done over years, and not just in perfecting athletic skills, honing muscles or improving expertise by performing physical tasks relentlessly, either.
The extra element that paralympians – in fact, all athletes that have disabilities – have to conquer is public opinion. This is a public opinion that often fails to recognise the hard work needed to reach such dizzying heights and a public opinion that often still refuses to see past the wheelchair or the prosthetic.
Paralympians are a rare breed, determined to succeed but also aiming to change hearts and minds. They need to win over the able-bodied world as well.are amazing, talented, gutsy individuals and let’s hope Rio makes us view them – and other people with disabilities – with much more appreciation.
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