Ready to Shine

As You Read, Think About: Which of these athletes would you most like to see compete? Why?

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The Olympics aren’t the only big sporting event taking place in Paris, France, this summer. Starting August 28, the city will also host the Paralympics. It’s the world’s biggest competition for athletes with disabilities. Athletes from more than 110 countries will compete in 22 sports. These three members of Team USA hope to have the golden touch.

The Olympics are taking place in Paris, France, this summer. But they aren’t the only big sporting event happening in the city. Paris will also host the Paralympics. Those events start on August 28. They’re the world’s biggest competition for athletes with disabilities. Athletes from more than 110 countries will compete in 22 sports. These three members of Team USA hope to have the golden touch.

Henry Browne/Action Images via Reuters

Lex Gillette takes flight at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships. 

Lex Gillette

Sport: Long Jump

Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina

What’s it like to soar through the air as a packed stadium cheers you on? Long jumper Lex Gillette compares it to being a superhero.

“It definitely is a really cool feeling,” he says. “It makes you feel larger than life.”

Gillette has been totally blind since he was 8 years old. But he didn’t let his disability be a barrier to becoming a champion athlete. 

Gillette competes with the aid of a guide, who stands at the end of the runway. He claps his hands and yells “Fly, fly, fly” so Gillette knows where to run. Gillette counts out exactly 16 strides before making his jump. 

Gillette holds the world record for the longest jump by an athlete who is totally blind: 22 feet, 2 inches. He’s already a five-time silver medalist at the Paralympics and hopes to win gold in Paris.*

“There’s going to be different challenges and things that might try to trip you up,” he says. “But always believe that you have what it takes to keep pushing forward.”

* At press time, Gillette still needed to officially earn a spot on the U.S. Paralympic team.

What’s it like to soar through the air as a packed stadium cheers you on? Long jumper Lex Gillette says it’s like being a superhero.

“It definitely is a really cool feeling,” he says. “It makes you feel larger than life.”

Gillette has been totally blind since he was 8 years old. But he didn’t let his disability be a barrier to becoming a champion athlete. 

Gillette competes with the aid of a guide. The guide stands at the end of the runway. He claps his hands and yells “Fly, fly, fly!” That lets Gillette know where to run. Gillette counts out exactly 16 strides before making his jump. 

Gillette holds the world record for the longest jump by an athlete who is totally blind. His record is 22 feet, 2 inches. He’s already won five silver medals at the Paralympics. He hopes to win gold in Paris.*

“There’s going to be different challenges and things that might try to trip you up,” he says. “But always believe that you have what it takes to keep pushing forward.”

* At press time, Gillette still needed to officially earn a spot on the U.S. Paralympic team.

Sipa USA/Alamy Stock Photo

Ixhelt González takes a shot during a game against Chile last November.

Ixhelt González 

Sport: Wheelchair Basketball

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Ixhelt González is usually shy. But that changes when she’s playing wheelchair basketball.

“I’m very aggressive on the court,” González says.

She began playing wheelchair basketball when she was about 7 years old. When González was 13, in 2018, she was good enough to make the U.S. women’s national team. As a member of Team USA, she won a bronze medal at the Paralympics in 2021. 

González doesn’t use a wheelchair in daily life, but her disability can be painful. Her thigh bones and feet are turned inward. This prevents her from walking long distances and running and jumping like other people can. But she says her disability has created opportunities for her as well. 

“It allows me to play wheelchair basketball on the world stage,” she says. “It’s taken me all over the world and allowed me to make new friends internationally.”

Ixhelt González is usually shy. But that changes when she’s playing wheelchair basketball.

“I’m very aggressive on the court,” González says.

She began playing wheelchair basketball when she was about 7 years old. In 2018, González made the U.S. women’s national team. She was just 13 years old! The team won a bronze medal at the Paralympics in 2021. 

González doesn’t use a wheelchair in daily life. But her disability can be painful. Her thigh bones and feet are turned inward. This prevents her from walking long distances. It also prevents her from running and jumping like other people can. But she says her disability has created opportunities for her as well. 

“It allows me to play wheelchair basketball on the world stage,” she says. “It’s taken me all over the world and allowed me to make new friends internationally.”

Carmen Mandato/Getty Images

Matt Stutzman aims at a target at the Paralympics in 2021.

Matt Stutzman

Sport: Archery

Hometown: Kalona, Iowa

Hitting a target with a bow and arrow isn’t easy. In 2015, Matt Stutzman did it from 310 yards away—almost as long as three football fields. His shot set a world record. What makes his accomplishment even more amazing is that Stutzman has no arms. He shoots the bow and arrow with his feet.

Stutzman got into archery in 2010 so he could help feed his family by hunting. But over time, the sport became about something much more.

“It was more about showing the world what people with physical disabilities can do,” he explains. “Just because we may look different doesn’t mean we can’t get the job done.” 

Stutzman, known as the “Armless Archer,” won a silver medal at his first Paralympics, in 2012. This year will be his fourth time competing. He hopes to inspire kids to be resilient. 

“Never give up,” he says. “People will sometimes say, ‘This can’t be done,’ but there’s always a way.”

Hitting a target with a bow and arrow isn’t easy. In 2015, Matt Stutzman did it from 310 yards away. That’s almost as long as three football fields. His shot set a world record. What makes the accomplishment more amazing? Stutzman has no arms. He shoots the bow and arrow with his feet.

Stutzman got into archery in 2010. He wanted to help feed his family by hunting. But over time, the sport became about something much more.

“It was more about showing the world what people with physical disabilities can do,” he explains. “Just because we may look different doesn’t mean we can’t get the job done.” 

Stutzman is known as the “Armless Archer.” He won a silver medal at his first Paralympics, in 2012. This year will be his fourth time competing. He hopes to inspire kids to be resilient. 

“Never give up,” he says. “People will sometimes say, ‘This can’t be done,’ but there’s always a way.”

1. What piece of advice does Lex Gillette give in the article?

2. Describe two ways Lex Gillette and Matt Stutzman are alike and two ways they are different.

3. In the section about Ixhelt González, what do the authors mean by the phrase “on the world stage”?

1. What piece of advice does Lex Gillette give in the article?

2. Describe two ways Lex Gillette and Matt Stutzman are alike and two ways they are different.

3. In the section about Ixhelt González, what do the authors mean by the phrase “on the world stage”?

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