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PATTERING FEET, CHILDREN'S VOICES

UPLIFTING MUSIC

MARTIN DOUGAN: Welcome to the Super Movers for Every Body guide to some of the athletic events you’ll see ParalympicsGB athletes competing in.

One thing is for sure, we’ve got some big names for you to meet.

Check it out!

HOLLIE: Hi, I’m Hollie Arnold and when I was fourteen, I went to my first Paralympic Games in Beijing 2008.

THOMAS: I’m Thomas Young, I am a gold medal-winning Paralympian and I compete in the 100 metre sprint.

FUNMI: And I am Funmi Oduwaiye. I’m hoping to follow in Thomas and Hollie’s footsteps in representing ParalympicsGB in shot put.

These sports are just a few of the track and field events, Para athletes from all over the world compete in for medals at the Paralympic Games, which takes place every four years.

CLAPPING

HOLLIE: I was born without my right forearm but that never stopped me loving sport.

When I was eleven, me and my brother went to a sporting event.

He picked up the javelin first; I wanted to beat him.

And that’s when I realised I love the javelin.

When I went to my first Paralympic Games, I was the youngest ever athlete to compete.

I was so proud and excited to represent ParalympicsGB.

Since then, I’ve been to every games, winning my gold medal at Rio 2016 and a bronze at Tokyo 2020.

But my world record throw of 43.01 metres is probably one of my best sporting achievements so far.

MARTIN: Like all Paralympic athletes, Hollie competes with others who have a similar impairment to hers, to make it fair.

And the idea is to launch the javelin as far as possible.

HOLLIE: It might seem easy to throw a javelin far, but it takes skill, time and patience.

The javelin that I use weighs 600 grams and I can throw that over 40 metres.

MARTIN: That’s like throwing this bottle of water from here…all the way over to here.

Now, that’s impressive.

Pretty thirsty work as well.

CHEERING

MARTIN: When it comes to Para athletics on the track, there are athletes with all kinds of different impairments, who race set distances.

In wheelchair racing, the wheelchairs are specifically designed for speed.

In other races, athletes who have a limb difference wear specially made prosthetic blades to help them run as fast as possible.

And there are runners who are blind or visually impaired.

They can run with a sighted guide who helps them stay on track, and hopefully, win the race.

THOMAS: My first Paralympic Games were the Tokyo 2020 Games.

There, I won a gold medal and ran a time of 10.94 seconds in the 100 metre sprint, which was just a second slower than Usain Bolt’s Olympic record.

The next day, I woke up to a message from Usain Bolt, saying,

‘Anything is possible. Don’t think limit.’

How cool is that?

MARTIN: To be this fast, Thomas has to be very dedicated. He trains five days a week and competes at events all around the world.

And he’s always been determined to be the best.

THOMAS: I’ve got NF1 which affects the nerves in my body, which means I find balance and coordination more difficult.

I started running in primary school and enjoyed it so much.

When I was twelve years old, I was diagnosed and that gave me lots of answers to why I struggled with my handwriting and couldn’t ride a bike,

but that didn’t make me want to stop becoming successful in my sport.

There is something just so great about running quickly, especially when you’re out in front and you can hear the crowd cheering you on.

COMMENTATOR: …Thomas Young to take Paralympic Gold for Great Britain!

MARTIN: In order for British athletes to keep winning medals, it’s important to find the next generation of sporting talent.

That’s where 21-year-old, Funmi Oduwaiye, from Cardiff, comes in.

FUNMI: I’ve always been into sport.

My mum put me in swimming, tennis, figure skating, rugby, you name it.

MARTIN: When Funmi turned sixteen, she had an operation on her right knee.

The surgery didn’t work and Funmi’s leg couldn’t be fixed, so she’s now affected from the knee down.

FUNMI: After my operation, I was referred to see Disability Sport Wales.

Shot put seemed to come naturally, so I started to train in that, and that was around two years ago.

MARTIN: The women’s competition uses a ball that weighs four kilograms.

That’s about the same as four pineapples.

FUNMI: Most people don’t realise how technical and difficult shot put is.

The ball has to be held against your neck with one hand, before it’s pushed, not thrown, as far as possible.

It’s a lot to get right.

MARTIN: Funmi’s personal best throw is 11.03 metres.

That’s like travelling from the back of a double-decker bus…

… all the way to the front.

The secret behind her success is preparation and technique.

FUNMI: Because of the issues with my leg, I have difficulty controlling it, so I have to put on what I call, ‘My throwing leg.’

It’s a hard plastic splint that helps control my foot, so I can concentrate on the throw.

Some competitors spin and some choose not to.

In some Para shot put classifications, all athletes have to throw from a seated position.

Now, that’s hard.

MARTIN: Para athletics is now practised by thousands of athletes in more than 130 countries around the world.

And you could be next!

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PATTERING FEET, CHILDREN'S VOICES