Paralympians
Adaptive sport champions
Paralympians are athletes who compete in the Paralympic Games, the international multi-sport event for competitors with physical disabilities, visual impairments, or intellectual disabilities.
The term parallels Olympians and carries the same connotations of elite athletic achievement and national representation.
Several Paralympians have become household names in their home countries.
The Paralympic Games run alongside and shortly after the Olympic Games, using the same host city and venues.
Systematic grouping by traits
- spinal cord injuryDamage to backbone's neural tissue
- cerebral palsyNeurological disorder impairing motor function
- visual impairmentUncorrectable seeing deficit
- intellectual disabilityImpaired reasoning and adaptive skills
prosthetics · wheelchairs · adaptive equipment · tethers · tandem bikes · sit-skis · assistive devices · accommodation
Awards for achievement
- podiumRaised platform for speakers
- world recordsDocumented supreme human achievements
- trialsFormal legal proceedings
- qualifiersWords limiting scope
heats · finals · Tokyo · Paris · Beijing · London · Rio · classification system
People others emulate
- trailblazersThose who open territory
- heroesAdmired courageous figures
- advocatesThose who support causes
- motivatorsForces prompting action
ambassadors · icons · pioneers · overcomers · determination · resilience · perseverance · courage
Athletics adapted for impairments
- adaptive sportsAthletics modified for disabilities
- parasportAthletics for disabilities
- inclusionBeing made part
- visibilityRange of clear sight
advocacy · funding · sponsorship · media coverage · recognition · equality · rights · accessibility
Those seeking same goal
- medalistsCompetition's top finishers
- championsContest winners, top performers
- OlympiansGreek gods or top athletes
- sportspeopleThose who play competitively
swimmers · sprinters · amputees · powerlifters · sit-skiers · blade runners · throwers · archers
classification
Systematic grouping by traits
- spinal cord injuryDamage to backbone's neural tissue
- cerebral palsyNeurological disorder impairing motor function
- visual impairmentUncorrectable seeing deficit
intellectual disability · prosthetics · wheelchairs · adaptive equipment · tethers · tandem bikes · sit-skis · assistive devices · accommodation · accessibility
medals
Awards for achievement
- podiumRaised platform for speakers
- world recordsDocumented supreme human achievements
- trialsFormal legal proceedings
qualifiers · heats · finals · Tokyo · Paris · Beijing · London · Rio · classification system · national teams
role models
People others emulate
- trailblazersThose who open territory
- heroesAdmired courageous figures
- advocatesThose who support causes
motivators · ambassadors · icons · pioneers · overcomers · determination · resilience · perseverance · courage · triumph
disability sport
Athletics adapted for impairments
- adaptive sportsAthletics modified for disabilities
- parasportAthletics for disabilities
- inclusionBeing made part
visibility · advocacy · funding · sponsorship · media coverage · recognition · equality · rights · accessibility · opportunities
competitors
Those seeking same goal
- medalistsCompetition's top finishers
- championsContest winners, top performers
- OlympiansGreek gods or top athletes
sportspeople · swimmers · sprinters · amputees · powerlifters · sit-skiers · blade runners · throwers · archers · equestrians