Finding Inspiration In The Paralympic Games: Mental Health And Athletics

The 2024 Paralympic Games occur in Paris from August 28th to September 8th. The Paralympic Games are the most prominent athletic event worldwide for people living with disabilities. The Games allow people with certain disabilities to compete and showcase their athletic training and prowess. Although they may not qualify for the traditional Olympics, they can receive medals, awards, and public recognition for their achievements. Understanding how to join the Paralympics, motivate yourself as an athlete, overcome stigma, and find inspiration from this event can improve your mental health as an athlete or observer of the Games. For further mental health support, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist.

The significance of the Paralympic Games

How athletes in the Paralympic Games can motivate themselves and find inspiration

There are strict criteria for participating in the Paralympic Games, and individuals must qualify based on several factors, not only their physical status. People in the Paralympics train to apply for the Games and are normally selected to join each country’s team based on the overall Paralympics selection criteria. If you want to try out for your country’s team or are an athlete currently preparing for the Games, below are a few ways to motivate yourself and find inspiration. 

Read up on the stories of other athletes

Having a disability or physical difference often leads to unique life challenges, such as oppression, stigmatization, limited physical movement, and low self-esteem, among others. You might not see much representation of people with your body type in common athletic competitions and broadcasting. You might also face messages from society that being part of the Paralympics isn’t as much of an accomplishment as participating in the Olympics. 

To work through these societal messages, you might find it inspiring to look at previous athletes in your sport who have won medals or overcome challenging situations. Below are a few notable Paralympic athletes: 

• Trischa Zorn: Trischa made history in the Paralympics by winning 41 gold medals for the United States swim team. She was born blind before later receiving iris implants that improved her vision and has been listed in the Paralympic Committee Hall of Fame for her achievements. 
• Ellie Robinson: At age 19, Ellie Robinson, a UK athlete with a rare type of dwarfism and Perthes disease, won gold and bronze medals in swimming at the Rio Paralympics. 
• Daniel Dias: This Brazilian swimmer earned nine medals in the Paralympics in 2026 in Rio. 
• Roberto Marson: Roberto, an Italian athlete, won 26 Paralympic medals in various sports during his lifetime. He competed in athletics, wheelchair basketball, and fencing and won three gold medals and two silver medals. 

Many other athletes have made history with their accomplishments in the Paralympics. You can read about current athletes readying for the 2024 games on the official International Paralympic Committee website. 

Practice goal-setting and self-affirmation exercises

If you are aiming to try out for a team, you may motivate yourself by setting goals specific to your unique challenges and strengths. Although being selected for a Paralympic team can take significant work, breaking goals into achievable steps can make the process seem more manageable. You might use the SMART goal framework to get started:

• S: Specific
• M: Measurable 
• A: Achievable 
• R: Relevant 
• T: Time-bound 

In addition to ensuring your goals fit the above categories, you can motivate yourself further by practicing affirmations daily or weekly. An affirmation can be described as a positive statement you can repeat to yourself, whether through writing or verbal speech, that can remind you of your strengths and goals. 

For example, affirmations might include, “I am capable of winning gold,” or “I am an excellent athlete.” Affirmations can also be goal-oriented, such as, “I am going to make the US Paralympics team in four years,” or “I will be recognized for my athletic talents.” 

Challenging the stereotypes surrounding the Paralympic Games

The Paralympics have faced various controversies since their development. Stereotypes can lead to harmful opinions of the Games and a lack of support from outside organizations. For this reason, challenging stereotypes is often a goal of the Paralympics. Below are a few stereotypes and reasons they are inaccurate. 

Stereotype: The Paralympic Games are not as important as the “real” Olympics

Like the Olympics, the Paralympics involve strict qualifications for athletes overseen by national Paralympic committees. In addition, athletes must train, have prior experience winning competitions, and show high athletic ability. Athletes often face obstacles on their journey to becoming Paralympians and work tirelessly to meet their goals. Olympic athletes can also face barriers and are not necessarily “perfect” or better than Paralympic athletes. All athletes can be seen as people with unique strengths and challenges.  

Stereotype: It’s easy to qualify for and win the Paralympic Games 

It’s usually very challenging to qualify for the Paralympic Games, and winning the gold medal in any category can take significant effort. To qualify, athletes must be eligible to compete in their sport of choice. In Para sports, athletes are typically grouped based on impairment of physical activity and specific limitations. Sports like Para table tennis, shooting, and wheelchair rugby are all included in the Paralympics, so athletes have a range of options. 

In addition to having a physical or intellectual impairment, athletes also go through a physical and technical assessment before the competition. Athletes are often chosen based on their history of athletic success, such as previous awards or achievements. Athletes often work out at the gym, focus on nutritional needs, and work with trainers. 

Stereotype: Disabled people can’t be athletes

Disabled people can be and are athletes. Anyone who participates in a sport or athletic activity can be categorized as an athlete. Officially, the definition of an athlete is “a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina,” and this description applies to Paralympians as well as Olympians. 

Stereotype: The Paralympics aren’t fair 

Some people might claim that the Paralympics aren’t fair because athletes have different disabilities and physical differences from each other, and some may be considered to have an “advantage” over others. However, the Paralympics generally ensure that athletes experience similar impairments despite having different challenges. For example, wheelchair users with different leg injuries or muscular strength in the legs and lower body might all compete together in wheelchair rugby if they have similar arm and upper body strength. Significant efforts are made to ensure the Games are fair. 

The Olympics can also involve some differences between athletes. Athletes may have different muscle composition, training, and field experience, but they have all been approved to join the team due to their unique skills in the sport. The Paralympics is no different. 

How to join the Paralympic Games

To join the Paralympics, you must first start training for your desired sport. For example, you might work with a Paralympics coach to ensure you eat nutritious meals, exercise frequently, and prepare for the strict requirements to enter. You must also research the standards for classifying for the games and the minimum competition requirements for your country. Talk to a Paralympian coach to learn more about how to start. 

Motivating yourself to succeed in athletics with a disability or physical difference 

Whether you’re seeking to become a Paralympic athlete or an athlete in general, the following tips for motivation may be helpful to you: 

• Keep a motivational poster, board, or collection of images and videos to remind you of your end goal 
• Learn about how other people with your disability have succeeded in their goals inside and outside of athletics
• Work with a coach
• Educate your community about the reality of athletics for those with physical impairments 
• Practice self-care 
• Care for your mental health by seeking professional support if you experience anxiety, stress, or other mental health challenges
• Talk to your loved ones about your goals 
• Keep motivational people in your life who don’t perpetuate stigma and stereotypes

How disabled athletes can be an inspiration to others in promoting mental and physical wellness 

Seeing disabled people and those with physical differences in the media is not only impactful for disabled athletes; anyone may benefit from watching and learning from the Paralympics. All athletes can be inspirational and spread a message about the importance of working toward your goals and believing in yourself. 

Knowing that you can achieve your goals no matter the circumstances can motivate you to pursue any life skill, whether athletics or another skill like painting or becoming a singer. Whether you know someone with a physical or intellectual difference or not, consider watching the 2024 Paralympic Games and the Paralympic Winter Games to support these athletes and learn about their achievements. 

Work through stigma and a lack of motivation in therapy

Connect with a compassionate therapist

Mental health support

Athletics can significantly impact mental health, especially when facing challenges, stereotypes, and stigma. Athletes seeking mental health support may benefit from therapy, but athletics can take up a lot of time. For more flexible therapy options, online platforms like BetterHelp may be more convenient. 

Clients can attend therapy at a time that fits their schedule, including outside of standard business hours. In addition, online platforms offer resources like group sessions, worksheets, journaling prompts, goal-tracking tools, and an option to message your therapist throughout the week. 

Studies suggest that online therapy can effectively reduce stress and burnout, which can be common challenges for athletes. Additional research supports the idea that online therapy is usually just as effective as in-person therapy.