Name the professional athletes you respect the most and why.
Daily prompt
I live in Philly, so people probably expect my answer to this question to include Bryce Harper or Jason Kelce. Kelce is a particularly beloved figure after his speech on the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art following the Eagles 2018 Super Bowl win. Even in retirement, the city still loves him.
My current favorite athlete is Paralympian Chuck Aoki. I found him on Threads as the Olympics were about to end. Everyone was posting about how sad they were the Olympics were over. And Aoki was in their replies hyping them up to watch the Paralympics starting on August 28th.
Gazellejava: It’s been 4 days. I still have major Olympic withdrawals. What do I do with myself?!?
chuckaoki: Get hyped for the Paralympics starting the 28th!
His enthusiasm was unassailable. I followed him instantly. When he popped onto my timeline on Threads, he delivered little dopamine hits of joy. It reminded me of #DisabilityTwitter back before the rebrand.
I quickly learned that Aoki plays wheelchair rugby aka murderball. He’s competed in the sport since age 15, and made his Paralympic debut in London in 2012.
I’ve never really followed rugby, but I could not wait to watch the Paralympic Games. Chuck and team USA did not disappoint. The action was fast paced, and the play intense. They went on to win silver in a great match against Japan.
The power of social media
The power of social media has helped bring Paralympic athletes into our homes in a way they never have been before. Such visibility helps improve disabled representation in media.
I’ve really enjoyed following many Paralympic athletes on social media as they have prepared to compete in some truly spectacular sports. Ezra Frech’s 100-day countdown to Paralympic gold showed tremendous determination. I was thrilled when he brought home two gold medals.
During the Olympics, we all watched Stephen Nedoroscik remove his glasses as he competed in pummel horse. His bronze medal performance was breathtaking.
I soon learned he has strabismus like me. Even at my age, it meant so much to see that representation in a world-class athlete. Strabismus is a visible disability that too often results in name calling and bullying. It can be devastating to be teased. Young children now have a role model I didn’t at their age.
If I have one critique of the Paralympic Games, it’s that not enough coverage occurred on broadcast channels. Too much of the coverage was on Peacock, a paid streaming service. It’s a serious accessibility issue because streaming services can be cost prohibitive for many disabled people. I would urge NBC to reconsider that strategy for the next games.