The Paralympics much like a ‘kaleidoscope’ shows the wide spectrum of human potential, where athletes transform challenges into eye-catching displays of strength, determination and skill reminding us that the limits to the human body are not a barrier to the power of human spirit.

The Paris Paralympic Games 2024 were held from 28^th August to 8^th September. India finished among the top 20 nations with a total medal tally of 29 that includes 7 gold, 9 silver and 13 bronze medals across 5 events particularly track events. India did much better in this Paralympics than in previous years.

There were quite a few records that tumbled during the achievement of the laurels during this year’s Paralympics. To list a few,

• In the Mixed Team Compound Arrow Ranking Round, Sheetal Devi and Rakesh Kumar earned 1399 points compared to the previous record of 1398 points achieved by Sarita and Rakesh Kumar.
• In the Men’s 100m – T38, USA’s Jaydin Blackwell broke his own record of 10.72s by crossing the line this time in 10.64s.
• In the Men’s Shot Put – F33, China’s Cai Bingchen created a new record with a distance of 12.77m overtaking Russian Evgenii Malykh’s 12.36m.
• In the Women’s 400m - T13, Brazilian Rayane Soares da Silva crossed the line in 53.55s beating USA’s Marla Runyan who did it previously in 54.46s.
• In the Women’s Javelin Throw – F12 Chinese Zhao Yuping broke her own record of 46.00m by throwing it 47.06m this time.
• In the Para Swimming, Men’s 50m Freestyle – S4 Sebastian Massabie from Canada finished in 35.61s breaking the record of 36.25s by Ami Omer Dadaon from Israel.

Similarly, there were many other records that were broken in other sports too.

The Paralympics is like a grand musical composition, where each athlete represents a unique note and together they create a symphony of courage, resilience and triumph. Just like how music knows no culture and language barriers, Paralympic athletes transcend physical body limitations proving that like a melody, the human spirit knows no boundaries.

It is not easy to play sports with a certain disability. This time India sent a contingent of 84 athletes, the highest number of athletes to participate in the Paralympics and all have done their best to put India in the 18^th position. However, the Paralympics are always more about the participants and their stories than the medals.

The athletes Dharambir Nain and Pranay Soorma won gold and silver respectively in the men’s club throw event. But, these athletes’ performance is highly unpredictable due to their high disability quotient. “They have no control over their bowel movements. They often pass urine while competing,” said Satyanarayana Shimoga, coach of the track and field contingent. “If they aren’t sitting in the perfect position, they can’t perform.”

Prachi Yadav made it to the 200m sprint finals in spite of having a serious eye infection. “We had to dress her eye every six hours. For her to play with the infection shows how resilient she is”, said Dr Ameya Kagali, medical head of the contingent.

It is important to know the story because without that, one cannot appreciate their achievements.

The Paralympics can be related to a poem, where each player writes their own verse of perseverance and strength. Paralympic competitors represent the art of transforming hardship into beauty, creating moments that resound with grace, tenacity, and the limitless potential of the human spirit. This is similar to how poetry uses words to convey feelings beyond what is uttered.

As mentioned above, 84 athletes participated in The Paralympic Games 2024. Not everyone may have won but to participate itself is such a big thing. One must appreciate and encourage the winners and non-winners as well. The non-medallists/failures today could be the champions of tomorrow. Each athlete must be celebrated. Their courage, resilience and bravery must be celebrated.

In conclusion, the 2024 Paralympic Games serve as a potent reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. These athletes' incredible tenacity and resolve have inspired millions of people as they have not only overcome physical obstacles but also redefined what it means to succeed. The Games serve as a reminder that greatness is not only achieved through record-breaking but also through breaking down boundaries, demonstrating that no obstacle is too big for someone to overcome with drive, tenacity, and unflinching faith in their own abilities. The Paralympics continue to leave a legacy of inclusivity, solidarity, and optimism for future generations as the world honours these extraordinary people.

Image source: News18