20 Years of Adaptive Sports

Hey Everyone!

20 years ago, in 1999, I was introduced to the Children's Lightning Wheels by one of my physical therapists who's also one of the assistant coaches. I participated in the sports of track & field, table tennis, and archery (even fencing for a couple years).

Joining the team was one of the best things that I could've done. Over the years, I've met many great people (teammates, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers, competitors, and many more). I've also competed at 12 National Junior Disability Championships (New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Arizona, Missouri, and Iowa) as a member of the Lightning Wheels.

As a member of the Lightning Wheels, I learned about independence, confidence, teamwork, friendship, sportsmanship, and so much more. I've also became stronger while taking part in the gym program and different practices. They have helped me strengthen my core muscles, as well as my other muscles.

I aged out of the Lightning Wheels in 2015 but still compete as an adult adaptive athlete. I decided to no longer do track (since track and I had our differences lol) but still do field events (shot put, discus, and javelin), table tennis, and archery.

Even though I aged out from the Lightning Wheels, I still help out with the team from time-to-time whether it's archery or if I'm at their track & field practices. I also help out whenever and wherever I can at sports meets (timing track events, helping the coaches with heat sheets, answer any questions members of the team have, etc.).

Adaptive sports has taught me a lot over the years and I wouldn't change a thing. I've made life-long friendships. I have a different point-of-view than many do. It's given me many opportunities that I definitely wouldn't have if I was never introduce to sports in 1999.

I always say that I know who I would be or where I would be if it wasn't for being a part of the Children's Lightning Wheels and adaptive sports. I still believe that til this day.

There is so much more that I can say about my 20 years of adaptive sports but instead of writing it all down here, I will be doing a video for my YouTube channel so STAY TUNED!

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Don't Forget to Support the Rio 2016 Paralympics!

Credit: Paralympic Games, Rio 2016,
and creators of logo

Hey Everyone!

A couple weeks ago, the Olympics took over our televisions as we watched athletes from across the world compete in different sporting events like track & field, table tennis, gymnastics, archery, swimming, rugby, tennis, rowing, etc.

In the end, United States had the most medals of any other nation (thanks to swimming and track & field which were two of the most winning sports for our country). The Rio Olympics were one of the biggest Olympics as there were many records broken, medals won, and even drama [Ryan Lochte anyone? green water? and more].

The games came to a close with countries coming together (closing ceremonies) and the world celebrating their elite athletes as they return home to their respective countries. So what's next for these sports? Is that it for another four years??

Not at all.

In six days, another round of Olympic sports (games) will start again! This time - it's the Paralympics (Olympics for elite athletes with physical disabilities). Did you know that? No? Well...it's coming and be prepared to watch!

Because for the first time, in Paralympics history, the 2016 Rio Paralympics will be airing LIVE - specifically 70 hours. Remember when I first posted about it when it was first announced? Check out my previous post (from a couple years ago): Finally. The Paralympics to be Aired Live in U.S.

The 2014 Winter Paralympics were the first time NBC (and NBCSN) aired LIVE events from the Olympics and this year's Summer Games will get about 20 more hours than the previous Paralympics and it would mark about 65 more hours than the 2012 games where NBC only aired one hour highlights each of the five days.

With so much talk about diversity, equality, and more - it is IMPORTANT that you tune in and watch the games because this is a great deal for people with disabilities and the elite athletes who are competing. We need many viewers to watch the games because it will show our kids (with or without disabilities) that anyone has the capabilities of being an athlete.

The Paralympics help break down barriers between the disabled and abled. It is a step that helps bring equality towards all people (remember "disability" has their own group but not brought up in conversations). The following Facebook post is one of the ways Paralympics help bring awareness towards disability and help remove obstacles for people with disabilities (Tatyana McFadden is a great advocate for disability rights and adaptive sports.



Please take part in the Paralympic Movement (watching the Paralympics, sharing about the Paralympics, and more). Talk about the events you're watching and tell NBC that you want more for the future games. Paralympics deserve to get the same amount of air-time as the Olympics do!

Ready to watch some awesome athletes? Then check out NBC's schedule of the events, as well check out other places you can watch the games: IPC selects Dailymotion to live stream 680 hours of the Paralympics Games.

Then come back here and let me know what you're favorite sporting event is!!

Go Team USA. Bring home the gold!

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3

Adaptive Sports Programs Needed in Schools

Hi Everyone!

Back so soon? Yep. Well, I have written something for sports writing class that I thought would make a great blog post so I have decided to put it on here. I was going to put it next week but today is International Day of Persons With Disabilities so I thought it would be best to post it today. 

For one of my writings, we had to write a column and I wrote it on getting adaptive sports programs in colleges which is something that needs to be addressed (it has already but there needs to be more). I hope you enjoy this and feel free to share! 

Here it is:

Did you know that there are about 49 million people with a disability in the United States? If the numbers are so high then how come there aren’t more adaptive sports programs in colleges? Well that needs to change.

In the past few years, there has been a great deal of need of adaptive sports programs to be added to colleges and universities. In 2009, American Collegiate Society of Adapted Athletes was formed to spread awareness towards creating adaptive sports programs to help disabled athletes have somewhere to go when they graduate high school. Right now, there are only 23 colleges/universities that offer adaptive sports and there are more than 4,800 colleges/universities overall. See the problem here? It’s time that more schools start offering these sports programs as the number of disabled athletes too is growing.

            Ok, I can see why you’re going to say ‘uh why? Why is it really necessary for adapted sports programs?’ How many athletes are really going to be going to the school and will take part in the program? How exactly is the school going to pay for the new program? There will need to be money for salaries (new coaches), equipment (even though many athletes have their own), and whatever else that will be needed for the programs. Well honestly, every single question can be answered and yes, it is necessary for these programs to be formed.

            Now before I go into why adapted sports programs in colleges are necessary, let me tell you what my search for college was like. First, I am an adaptive athlete and do the sports of track & field, table tennis, archery and at one point, fencing. When I was looking into colleges, I was looking for schools that had sports programs whether adapted or open to adapted but do you want to know what I found? Nothing. At least nothing in New Jersey. So I decided to stick with focusing on education and continue being a part of the Children’s Lightning Wheels but even that has to come to an end at some point. What’s next?

            Do you know how much more diversed sports would be if colleges/universities included adapted sports? Athletes would get to know one another and learn about each other’s sports and how those athletes do their sports. Isn’t this country all about diversity and getting to know different cultures? Well this is exactly the same! A baseball player can get to know a disabled field athlete. A wheelchair track athlete can show a non-disabled track athlete how they use their arms instead of their legs. It gives everyone growth and it will lead to more diversity in other areas of sports, not just college.

            Hello! Can’t you see there will be many more opportunities open for people with disabilities? It’s time that people with disabilities get the same recognition as other groups. I mean, we are the biggest minority group in the world. Did you know that? Of course not. Why would you? We’re the last group people think about. But there are 49 million people in the United States alone that have a disability which is 20 percent of the country’s population. Shocking huh? Well if colleges bring adapted sports programs to their schools, people will start seeing people with disabilities as people and might actually consider looking more into how to better equality for those.

            Now having these sports programs in colleges will lead to more across the country like in public school (middle and high schools) and programs like the Lightning Wheels which will lead to more athletes. More athletes means more students and that could bring the tuition down because more students equals less to pay. Sounds like a plan to me. Don’t you agree? Also, these athletes will no longer be “hidden” away in their homes and take part in the world which could lead to a better economy. Don’t we all want that?

            You still don’t agree? All right then, how about this? Why don’t colleges allow people with disabilities take part in the sports programs that are in session now? Like if a school has a track team, let a wheelchair track athlete be on the team and create a wheelchair division, you know like how the high schools do it. If numbers rise in the amount of disabled athletes then the school can create a separate sports program for the adaptive sports. But I’m telling you right now, it might just be easier to create the adaptive sports program right off the bat. 

Well there we go. What did you think? Feel free to leave a comment below with your thoughts! 

Until Next Time

CGoerlich <3