By Crea Baker-Durante
With over 1000 kids competing in the New England Kids Triathlon, a particular 6 stood out to me and to the rest of the crowd. The New England Kids Triathlon is the first sporting event I have attended that had Para-athletes competing in it. Being an athlete myself, I understand all of the struggles athletes face during competition with fatigue, a pulled muscle, etc. I was amazed to watch these six athletes racing in a highly competitive event and walk away with huge smiles on their faces. None of them dwelled on the challenges, but they rather focused on the positives – something all of us could do a little more.
As my time at Adaptive Sports New England winds down, I’m able to reflect on the past few months. Listening to some of the interviews after the race, the athletes didn’t talk about how they did but rather how competing made them feel. After this experience, I’m able to see that yes, the Para-athletes want to do well, but more importantly, competing in athletics to them is about the opportunity it gives them to experience new things, to gain independence in a new way. Something that has always been difficult for me is seeing past the desire to win and instead, looking at what the sport is giving you and teaching you.
Seeing how these athletes felt after the race and in general about athletics confirms how important it is to increase participation in athletics among kids with visual and mobility impairments and it will definitely be something I want to continue to help with in the future!
Crea Baker Durante served as a summer intern at Adaptive Sports New England. Crea has headed back for her sophomore year at Fordham University where she is a member of the varsity soccer team. Thank you, Crea for your great work this summer! – JW
