Grace Norman: Her Paralympic Return to Gold

Grace Norman is a four-time Paralympic medalist, once in track and field and three times in the sport of Paratriathlon. She is also, as of October 2024, a five-time world Paratriathlon champion.This episode focuses on Norman's Paralympic journey which spans Rio, Tokyo, and this year's 2024 Paralympics in Paris.For over a decade now, Norman's primary focus has been Paratriathlon, but before that, she was a competitive runner, and running is at the foundation of Grace's athletic life: she ran track and cross country in high school and college, racing able-bodied competitors. Grace was born with Congenital Constriction Band Syndrome, which resulted in the amputation of her left leg below the knee and her right big toe when she was young. Norman runs and races with a prosthetic.Norman started racing Paratriathlon in her teens, and made her Paralympic debut in Rio, the same year Paratriathlon debuted at the Games. There, Norman surprised everyone, herself included, by winning gold.Since then, Paratriathlon has continued to grow and the competition has intensified, and in turn, Norman has continued to develop as a world-class competitor. Starting with those Rio games when Norman was just graduating high school and heading into college through her collegiate years, which led to Tokyo, until now as a full-time professional athlete.Over the past several years, Norman has been the athlete to beat in Paratriathlon, but it did take some time for that consistency to set in. She's gone through the highs of being the young, talented newcomer in Rio, to a time of learning and growth heading into the Tokyo Paralympics, where she and her coach had very high confidence that a repeat gold medal performance was within her abilities. And it probably was; Norman was certainly prepared to give her all in Tokyo.What happened in Tokyo inspired Norman to double down on her preparation for Paris. In this story, Norman shares the whole journey, including the unwavering determination and dedication she carried all the way through the finish line at this past summer's 2024 Paralympic Games.Keep Up with Grace NormanInstagram: @gracenormantriSupport Our SupportersLagoon Pillows: lagoonsleep.com/WRSUse the discount code WRS to receive $25 off any pillow! Through Dec. 2, 2024YMR Track Club: ymrtrackclub.comUse the discount code WRS20 for 20% off your purchaseTo support WRS, please rate and review the showiTunes/Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/womens-running-stories/id1495427631Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4F8Hr2RysbV4fdwNhiMAXc?si=1c5e18155b4b44faMusic CreditsCormac O'Regan, of PlaytohComa-Media, via PixabayRomanBelov, via PixabaySergePavkinMusic, via PixabayGrand Project, via PixabayRockot, via PixabayWays to Connect and Engage with Women's Running StoriesOver 50, Sub 20, 5k Project Instagram: @over50sub20_5k_projectWRS Instagram: @womensrunningstoriesFacebook: facebook.com/WomensRunningStoriesWebsite: womensrunningstories.comEmail host Cherie: [email protected]'s Running Stories is a proud member of the Evergreen network: https://evergreenpodcasts.com/