Francesca Rudkin: The Paralympics gave me a reality check

So I had a bit of a reality check this week. As you may have gathered, I love to do a bit of running – it’s more plodding – and I especially love plodding on trails in the bush. This year I’ve been struggling with a knee, which has turned out to be a hamstring issue. It’s nothing major, but annoying enough to stop me being able to train the way I normally do for a fastpacking trip I do each November. I’m a bit fed up with it all. But recently I watched Grit & Glory: The Road To The Paralympics- the TVNZ + documentary following 6 Kiwi Paralympians in their lead up to Paris 2024. Needless to say, I gave myself a little talking to. If you want a little perspective in life – I suggest watching this documentary. What an extraordinary group of athletes. What an extraordinary group of people. What you get in this doco are stories about sports people attempting to qualify to compete against the best in the world, and personal stories about living with a disability. Track stars Anna Grimaldi and Mitch Joynt, swimmers Cameron Leslie and Tupou Neiufi, and cyclists Nicole Murray and Devon Briggs are honest and revealing narrators; sports people often have good stories but the resilience of these Paralympians is something else. They’re proof disabilities should never stop people pursuing their dreams, but still as a society we continue to struggle with accepting differences. These athletes are honest about the impact their disability has had on their lives – especially those who were born or grew up with one. Anna speaks about the impact of trying to be normal and pretending not to be different. Devon about being treated as an outsider growing up, and Tupou about having days when she wishes she was normal. What is cool to see though is how through sport these athletes have found confidence in all parts of their lives, and an increased acceptance and understanding of their disability. From a sports lovers point of view, there are also great insights into what it takes to be an elite athlete. At the Paralympics sport comes first, disability second. It’s really cool hearing them speak about the highs and lows, dealing with race day nerves, competitiveness, the heartbreak, and the pressure of expectations. I didn’t want this documentary to end – and in a way it hasn’t. Each athlete qualified for Paris and over the coming days we can watch the next part of their stories; a little more knowledgeable about what it has taken to get them there. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.