The Magazine for Wheelchair Sports and Recreation Vol. 47 No. 1

January 2021

Loosen Up Discover the many benefits of stretching

Inside SPORTS ’N SPOKES

Features

14 Rising Phoenix Paralympic athletes say a recent Netflix movie has been well-received and brought awareness. by Shelly Anderson 18 Sports Go Virtual Paralyzed Veterans of America’s sports programs are finding new ways to help members virtually during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. by John Groth 24 Convenience & Luxury For the athletes who use it, the Boston Sports Institute is far more than a unique athletic facility with an accessible pool and sled hockey-ready ice rink. by Lisa Van Loo

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on sportsnspokes.com Scan This! Digital Highlights Or go to GIGI CHANGES THE GAME CYBATHLON MOVES DESPITE DISTANCE sportsnspokes.com Even at 65 years old, Paralympian Margaret Fifty-one teams from 20 countries competed in No- “Gigi” McIntosh continues to compete in the vember’s 2020 Cybathlon Global Edition, an inter- sport of para equestrian. Find out what led national competition where people with physical her to compete at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro disabilities race to complete everyday tasks using Paralympic Games. state-of-the-art technical assistance systems.

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 3 Inside SPORTS ’N SPOKES

6 MY OPINION Optimistic & Smart by Tom Fjerstad

12 FITNESS Stretching Helps For Daily Health by Jennifer Best

30 PEOPLE Life-Changing Decision by John Groth 14

33 INNOVATIONS New Clothing Designs by Jennifer Best

Also in This Issue

7 Sports Associations

8 In The Game

36 On The Sidelines

38 Classifieds

38 ProShop 39 Final Frame 24

On the cover: Stretching not only SPORTS ’N SPOKES (ISSN 0161-6706). Published bi- month ly in January, March, May, July, September, and helps wheelchair athletes achieve November, by the Paralyzed Veterans of America, peak performance, but it’s also Inc., at 7250 North 16th Street, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85020-5214, U.S.A. (602) 224-0500. Periodicals postage imperative for daily health. Photo by paid at Phoenix, AZ, and at additional entry offices. Getty Images/GoodLifeStudio. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to SPORTS ’N SPOKES, 7250 North 16th Street, Suite 100, Phoenix, AZ 85020-5214, U.S.A. Subscription rates: $21 annually. Foreign orders: $27 (U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank).

44 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021

TOM FJERSTAD My Opinion

Optimistic & Smart Team sports are no doubt where the great- est challenges come into play because of the elcome to the first entirely often extremely close proximity of the players. digital issue of SPORTS ’N W Wheelchair basketball, softball, rugby and simi- SPOKES magazine. lar sports may be some of the last to fully return The magazine may be follow- to a pre-pandemic normal, but I’d like to think ing the trend of the publishing in- we’re smart enough to find a work-around in dustry, but its content still relies on the real world until that time comes. real, in-person, physically tangible events and ac- Last July, a number of wheelchair softball tivities. If you’re like me, you’ve had enough of the players got together in Kansas City, Mo., for a pretend, virtual world and want to get back to en- few games. They made some minor rule mod- joying real sports and real activities. Published by Paralyzed Veterans of America ifications, and everyone had a great time get- 7250 North 16th Street, Suite 100 I’m not discounting or minimizing the impor- Phoenix, AZ 85020 • (602) 224-0500 ting out in the fresh air for some much-needed tance of doing whatever we can to stay active competition and camaraderie. To the best of and connected during challenging times, but EDITOR my knowledge, it didn’t turn I’ll never accept the cre- Tom Fjerstad, ext. 100 into a super-spreader event ative alternatives of 2020 [email protected] and was a great example of as a “new normal.” Athletes responsible modification OPERATIONS MANAGER such as quad rugby players and accommodation. need to be crashing and Sherri Shea, ext. 102 I really hope 2021 doesn’t [email protected] bruising, not getting blis- turn into a continuation of ters on their fingers from a last year and its never-end- ASSISTANT EDITOR computer mouse. ing disappointments. The Andy Nemann, ext. 112 The SPORTS ’N SPOKES Tokyo Summer Paralympics [email protected] staff is as anxious to cover can’t be postponed again. real events in 2021 as you are EDITORIAL COORDINATORS I understand the sheer to participate in them. To me, size and complexity of this John Groth, ext. 105 it seems that many sports [email protected] event make last-minute ad- should be continuing to PUBLICATIONS PVA justments much more dif- Brittany Martin, ext. 110 offer viable, real-life options ficult or even impossible. [email protected] for participation. Social dis- But decisions that may not tancing is a phrase that can’t ART & PRODUCTION be either ideal or ultimately disappear from our vocabulary soon enough, but even necessary must be made. Ann Garvey, ext. 103 until it does, I can’t help but use the grocery store [email protected] Smaller events and competitions have much as a measuring stick of acceptable socialization. greater flexibility in this regard, and I hope Kerry Randolph, ext. 104 If it’s OK to roll up and down the aisles of the [email protected] every attempt is made to make them happen, store, passing by other shoppers, I think some if at all possible. ADVERTISING minor modifications or simple precautions should Let’s be optimistic, while at the same time allow for the return of most of our cherished Steve Max, 215-284-8787 being smart about our choices. I’m hopeful for sports and activities. [email protected] a 2021 filled with wheelchair rugby and other I don’t need to go down the list of sports and sports being played as they should be and SUBSCRIPTIONS offer suggestions because I’m sure most of you SPORTS ’N SPOKES being there to cover every ac- have already come to your own realizations as Suzi Hubbard, ext. 109 tion-packed moment. [email protected] to what could work and what would not be ac- S’NS ceptable to you. WEB CONTENT

Christopher Di Virgilio, ext. 106 [email protected] Now in its 46th year of publication, SPORTS ’N SPOKES is the nation’s premier magazine for wheelchair sports and recreation primarily for those with spinal-cord injury, spina bifida, amputation and some congenital defects. Not respon sible for unsolicited material. SPORTS ’N SPOKES neither endorses nor guarantees any of the products or services advertised. © 2021 Paralyzed Veterans of America. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without permission is prohibited.

66 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 SportsSports Associations Associations

AMPUTEE SPORTS International Wheelchair Aviators Move United SKIING 82 Corral Drive 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 608 Move United Keller, TX 76244 Rockville, MD 20850 Move United 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 608 (817) 229-4634 moveunitedsport.org 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 608 Rockville, MD 20850 [email protected] Rockville, MD 20850 moveunitedsport.org wheelchairaviators.org World T.E.A.M. Sports moveunitedsport.org 4250 Veterans Memorial Highway, ARCHERY Ste. 420E Ski for Light, Inc. FOOTBALL Holbrook, NY 11741 1455 West Lake Street Disabled Archery, USA (855) 987-8326 / 288-3377 (fax) Minneapolis, MN 55408 Move United (612) 827-3232 c/o Coach Glen Harris 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 608 worldteamsports.org [email protected] P.O. Box 698 Rockville, MD 20850 sfl.org Langley, WA 98260 moveunitedsport.org (360) 321-5979 QUAD SPORTS [email protected] Universal Wheelchair Bay Area Outreach & Recreation SOFTBALL disabledsportsusa.org/archery Football Association Program (BORP) U.C. Raymond Walters College 3075 Adeline St., Ste. 155 National Wheelchair BASKETBALL Disability Services Office Berkeley, CA 94703 Softball Association 9555 Plainfield Road (510) 849-4663 / 849-4616 (fax) 13414 Paul Street Wheelchair Basketball Canada Cincinnati, OH 45236-1096 [email protected] Omaha, NE 68154 6 Antares Drive, Phase 1, Unit 8 (513) 792-8625 borp.org (402) 305-5020 Ottawa, Ontario K2E 8A9 [email protected] [email protected] Canada United States Quad Rugby wheelchairsoftball.org Association (613) 260-1296 GOLF [email protected] 4000 Ridgeway Drive TABLE TENNIS wheelchairbasketball.ca U.S. Golf Association Homewood, AL 35209 1631 Mesa Avenue (205) 999-3092 American Wheelchair International Wheelchair Colorado Springs, CO 80906 usqra.org Table Tennis Association Basketball Federation (719) 471-4810, ext.15 23 Parker Street 5 Route Suisse usga.org Port Chester, NY 10573 1295 Mies RACQUET SPORTS (914) 937-3932 Switzerland National Amputee Golf Association International Tennis Federation [email protected] +41-22-545-00-00 11 Walnut Hill Road (Wheelchair Tennis Department) iwbf.org Amherst, NH 03031 Bank Lane, Roehampton TRACK & FIELD (800) 633-6242 London SW15 5XZ, England National Wheelchair [email protected] (011) 0044-(0)208-878-6464 Adaptive Track & Field USA Basketball Association* nagagolf.org 0044-(0)208-392-4744 (fax) (ATSUSA) 1130 Elkton Drive, Ste. C [email protected] https://www.atfusa.org Colorado Springs, CO 80907 HOCKEY itftennis.com (719) 266-4082 WATER SPORTS/RECREATION nwba.org U.S. Sled Hockey Association United States Tennis Association 710 N. Lake Shore Drive, 3rd Floor 70 W. Red Oak Lane American Canoe Association BILLIARDS Chicago, IL 60611 White Plains, NY 10604 7432 Alban Station Boulevard (312) 908-4292 / 908-1051 (fax) (914) 696-7000 / 696-7029 (fax) Ste. B-232 National Wheelchair [email protected] usta.com Springfield, VA 22150 Poolplayers Association usahockey.com/sledhockey (703) 451-0141 / 451-2245 (fax) 9757 Mount Lompoc Court americancanoe.org Las Vegas, NV 89178 RECREATION [email protected] HORSEBACK RIDING Turning POINT (Paraplegics Handicapped Scuba Association North American Riding for the On Independent Nature Trips) 1104 El Prado BOWLING Handicapped Association 403 Pacific Avenue San Clemente, CA 92672 P.O. Box 33150 Terrell, TX 75160 (949) 498-4540 / 498-6128 (fax) American Wheelchair Denver, CO 80233 (972) 524-4231 [email protected] Bowling Association (800) 369-RIDE / (303) 252-4610 (fax) [email protected] hsascuba.com c/o Gary Ryan, AWBA Secretary pathintl.org turningpointnation.org 16006 Congo Lane Water Skiers With Houston, TX 77040 Disabilities Association (713) 444-7588 LACROSSE SHOOTING 1251 Holy Cow Road [email protected] Move United Polk City, FL 33868 Wheelchair Lacrosse USA (800) 533-2972 / (863) 324-4341 awba.org 4245 West Overlook Drive 451 Hungerford Drive, Ste. 608 Rockville, MD 20850 325-8259 (fax) San Diego, CA 92108 usawaterski.org FENCING (619) 807-9327 moveunitedsport.org wheelchairlacrosse.com U.S. Fencing Association National Wheelchair 1 Olympic Plaza Shooting Federation* S’NS Colorado Springs, CO 80909 MULTISPORT 102 Park Avenue (719) 866 - 4511 Casa Colina Adaptive Sports Rockledge, PA 19046 usfencing.org & Outdoor Adventures (215) 379-2359 / 663-0102 (fax) 255 East Bonita Avenue NRA Disabled Shooting Services Pomona, CA 91769 FLYING 11250 Waples Mill Road (909) 596-7733 / 593-0153 (fax) Fairfax, VA 22030 Freedom’s Wings International casacolina.org 324 Charles Street, Apt. 25 (703) 267-1495 / 267-3941 (fax) Coopersburg, PA 18036 (800) 382-1197 freedomswings.org

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 7 NEWS FOR THE WHEELCHAIR SPORTS COMPETITOR In The Game

ATHLETICS championships. The season is scheduled to start with the United Arab Emirates Fazza In- World Para Snow Sports ternational Athletics Championships Feb. Championships Postponed 10–13, with more events to follow. Here are the provisional dates and events: he World Para Snow Sports Champion- Feb. 10–13: Dubai 2021 Grand Prix – Fazza Tships scheduled to take place in Feb- International Athletics Championships ruary 2021 in Lillehammer, Norway, have (United Arab Emirates) been postponed to early January 2022. According to a Nov. 25 press release March 18–20: Tunis 2021 Grand Prix – 13th from Lillehammer 2021 and World Para Tunis International Meeting (Tunisia) Snow Sports, the reason for the post- March 25–27: Sao Paulo 2021 Grand Prix – ponement is because of the uncer- Loterias Caixa Open Championships (Brazil) TS/ OR SP tainty related to the novel coronavirus W O N April 16–18 : Italy 2021 Grand Prix – Italian S A (COVID-19) pandemic. R A Open Championships (city TBD) P / The board of the Norwegian Ski As- M

O

C . K sociation, in consultation with World April 23–25: Beijing 2021 Grand Prix –

O

O

B Eighth China Open Athletics Champion-

E Para Snow Sports, the Norwegian

C C

A A F F Olympic and Paralympic Committee, ships (China) the Norwegian Biathlon Federation May 5–7: Paris 2021 Grand Prix – Handis- and the Norwegian Board Sports Fed- port Open Paris (France) eration made the decision together after a series of meetings and close dialogue with May 14–16: Nottwil 2021 Grand Prix – Norway’s health authorities. ParAthletics (Switzerland) “We know how much the event means TBD: Arizona 2021 Grand Prix – Desert to many, and we understand well the disap- Challenge Games (Tempe, Ariz.) pointment of having to wait a whole year, but the championships’ scope, duration and com- plexity cannot be accommodated under the BADMINTON current situation of the pandemic nationally Japan, Thailand Host BWF Worlds and internationally,” says Erik Røste, president of the Norwegian Ski Association, in the re- ollowing a Badminton World Federation lease. “The risk of spreading infection among F(BWF) Council vote, Japan and Thailand volunteers, competitors and in the local com- were named as the next two hosts of the munity does not make it justifiable to carry BWF Para Badminton World Championships. out the competition as planned.” Japan and the Japan Para Badminton Fed- The rescheduled World Championships eration will host them in 2021, while Thai- will retain the Lillehammer 2021 name land and the Badminton Association of Thai- and will be the largest para sport event in land will host them in 2023. Norway since the 1994 Paralympic Win- Para badminton will be introduced to ter Games in Lillehammer. There are 750 the Paralympics at this year’s Tokyo Games, participants from over 30 nations and 700 which were scheduled for 2020 but moved volunteers expected. to August/September 2021 because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The World Para Athletics Calendar sport has been played internationally since the 1990s, and the first world championships orld Para Athletics has announced a started in 1998 in Amersfoort, Netherlands. Wprovisional calendar for the 2021 ath- Since 2001, the world championships have letics season, which includes dates for major taken place every two years.

88 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 BASKETBALL were postponed from 2020 be- Russia’s Vera Muratova cause of the novel coronavirus won the 2020 World Para (COVID-19) pandemic. Powerlifting Online World Canada’s Jacques Retires Cup Series Finals title with “Sometimes tough decisions 343.5 points. aralympian and world cham- have to be made, and I knew retir- Ppion Maude Jacques an- ing would never be easy because nounced her retirement from the basketball has been a part of my Canadian women’s wheelchair identity for so long,” Jacques says basketball team in late November. in a press release announcing her She helped Canada capture the retirement. “But I leave the team gold medal at the 2014 Interna- with my head held high, and I am tional Wheelchair Basketball Fed- proud of everything that I have eration (IWBF) Women’s World accomplished. I wish Team Can- Wheelchair Basketball Champi- ada the best for Tokyo 2021.” onship in Toronto and was an all- star at the 2015 IWBF Under-25 Women’s World Championship POWERLIFTING in Beijing. She also helped Can- Muratova Wins World Cup HIROKI NISHIKOKA-WORLD PARA POWERLIFTING ada reach the 2012 London Para- lympic Games, along with this ussia’s Vera Muratova captured ing Online World Cup Series Finals year’s Tokyo Paralympics, which Rthe 2020 World Para Powerlift- title. The 40-year-old dominated the series the entire year, record- ing three wins and two runner- up finishes in the five 2020 On- line World Cup Series events. She took the Nov. 17 title and finished with 343.5 points, de- feating Russia’s Anastasiia Mama- damirova (292.5) and Colombia’s Jainer Cantillo (211). Muratova’s two second-place finishes came to Mexico’s Amalia Perez, who finished eighth over- all (142.5) in the series. The finals were held as a mixed event. Para powerlift- ers competed live from their homes and were judged by In- ternational Technical Officials by video. Results were based on the additional points athletes scored considering the num- Canada women’s wheelchair basketball ber of valid MCDONALD player Maude Jacques, pictured with ball attempts at the 2011 BT Paralympic World Cup Wheelchair Basketball event, announced (good lifts). her retirement in late November. Launched by IMAGES/JAMIE World Para Power- GETTY

© lifting in April, the

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 9 In The Game HIROKI NISHIKOKA-WORLD Colombia’s Jainer Cantillo placed third in the 2020 World Para Powerlifting Online World Cup Series Finals,

finishing with 211 points. PARA POWERLIFTING

2020 Online World Cup Series totaled 129 participants from 34 countries and was started to keep athletes en- gaged and moti- vated during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Perez Earns Fifth Online

POWERLIFTING World Cup Series

PARA fter missing the last On- Aline World Cup Series, Mexi- co’s Amalia Perez returned to cap- ture the late-October fifth Online NISHIKOKA-WORLD World Cup Series event. HIROKI The three-time Paralympic champion won the women’s category, finishing with 126.34 Russia’s Anastasiia Mamadamirova points to defeat Russia’s Vera Mu- (292.5 points) placed second ratova (119.46). Russia’s Anastasiia in the 2020 World Para Mamadamirova was third with Powerlifting Online World Cup Series Finals. 110.58 points. Perez also earned the team captain competition, with her The top nine results were: 5. Rehab Ahmed (Egypt) – Blue Team winning over the Yel- 176.5 points low Team captained by Italy’s 1. Vera Muratova (Russia) – Alessandro Boraschi and Team 343.5 points 6. Mariana D’Andrea (Brazil) – Green captained by Brazil’s Pedro 176 points 2. Anastasiia Meloni. The team captain compe- Mamadamirova (Russia) – 7. Cristina Poblador (Colombia) – tition was a virtual challenge in 292.5 points 174 points which four para powerlifting ex- perts try to predict the athletes’ 3. Jainer Cantillo (Colombia) – 8. Amalia Perez (Mexico) – results in each series. 211 points 142.5 points In the men’s division, Kazakh- 4. Latsami Sipaseuth (Laos) – 9. Herbert Aceituno (El Salvador) stan’s David Degtyarev recorded 178 points – 69 points his third straight victory. He fin-

1010 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 ished with 204.74 points, defeat- a women’s doubles gold medal Buis also won two UNIQLO ing Colombians Jainer Cantillo at the 2012 London Paralympic Wheelchair Doubles Masters titles, (186.12) and Fabio Torres (184.67). Games, defeating fellow Neth- partnering with de Groot in 2017 erlands players Jiske Griffioen and van Koot in 2019, and earned and Aniek van Koot, and teaming a third-place finish at the 2013 NEC TENNIS with Diede de Groot for a silver Wheelchair Masters tournament. Netherlands’ Buis Retires medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games in Brazil. Clocktower Classic Champs fter more than 10 years, “Physically, it’s no longer pos- Awomen’s wheelchair tennis sible for me to train full-time and ive individuals and five dou- player Marjolein Buis (the Nether- to play three-set matches at the Fbles teams captured titles lands) announced her retirement highest level. And if I can’t give at the Nov. 14–15 Georgia State in late October. everything it takes to be a top Clocktower Classic Wheelchair Ten- Buis won 18 women’s singles athlete, I don’t want to be one,” nis Championships in Rome, Ga. and 52 women’s doubles titles and Buis wrote in a statement on her David Williams took home the had been ranked in the world’s top official website. “I’ve also really men’s wheelchair A singles title, de- 10 since November 2010. been enjoying life at home since feating Robert Popelka, 6-1, 6-1, in © GETTY IMAGES/MIKE OWEN

The Netherlands’ women’s wheelchair tennis player Marjolein Buis announced her retirement from the sport in late October.

Buis won six Grand Slam ti- the [novel] coronavirus [COVID- the championship match. In the tles, one in singles at the French 19] pandemic. I picked up my men’s wheelchair B singles final, Mi- Open in 2016 and five in doubles. studies in clinical psychology chael Johnston defeated Ricardo She reached a career-high rank- and over the past few months, I Castaneda, 6-4, 7-6, 7-2, for the title, ings of No. 3 in singles and No. have experienced what my life while Victor Vaughn defeated Ven- 1 in doubles. She also won two after tennis may look like. And I kata Anwesh Datla, 8-8, 7-5, in the Paralympic Games medals, join- really like it! I’m looking forward men’s wheelchair C singles final. ing teammate Esther Vergeer for to my new life.” S’NS

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 11 Fitness

Stretching Helps Maintaining a regular exercise, move- sitting, being on computers, slumping ment and stretching routine can help and all of that, eventually we get tight For Daily Health maintain overall body conditioning, dis- and lose range of motion.” by Jennifer Best courage circulatory and nervous compli- Stretching, he says, is among the most he common practice of stretching for cations and reduce the risk of injury. important methods for loosening up Trecreational and competitive athletes “It’s certainly beneficial to stretch be- that tightness. Additional treatments has long been debated in its details: its ef- fore and after activities. You have peo- such as applying heat or sitting in a fectiveness before versus after warmup, ple who say, ‘I don’t ever stretch, and I do warm pool increase elasticity. Transcuta- great,’ but perhaps neous electrical nerve stimulation units © GETTY they’d do better if cause vibrations that help relax muscle

IMAGES/DNY59 they’d stretch,” says fibers so they can stretch. De Luigi, who also Like many other wheelchair users, most serves as the clin- wheelchair athletes will have tight hip ic’s chair of the De- flexors and hamstrings. partment of Physical Recommended stretches for releas- Medicine & Rehabil- ing hip flexors include simply lying itation, medical di- perfectly prone. rector of the Sports For a more advanced stretch, move Medicine Indepen- from the prone position to cobra pose. dent Multidisci- To perform the pose, spread your hands plinary Program, as- on the floor under your shoulders,

sociate professor of © GETTY IMAGES/GOODLIFESTUDIO physical medicine and rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic School of Medicine and profes- Stretching can help wheelchair athletes with autonomic dysreflexia, an emergency condition that causes a sudden onset of excessively sor of rehabilitation high blood pressure. medicine at George- town University its impact on performance and its contri- School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. bution to athletic longevity. For wheelchair athletes and those with MOVE THOSE MUSCLE GROUPS spinal-cord injuries (SCI), however, there Wheelchair athletes whose every action is no debate — pre-performance stretch- involves propelling their chair should focus ing is essential, not only for peak perfor- on rotator cuff, periscapular and pectoral mance but for daily health. warmups with stretches above the head, Stretching can help with autonomic to each side and across the body. dysreflexia, an emergency condition that Often overlooked by athletes and non- causes a sudden onset of excessively high athletes alike are stretches for the lower blood pressure. body, De Luigi says. “One of the biggest concerns we have “One of the most important things in SCI patients is autonomic dysreflexia about stretching is maintaining as development, which can be triggered by much range as possible. When we’re problems with lower extremity tightness born and as we move through life, we or sensitivities of the wheelchair,” says Ar- are more extension-based. When you’re thur Jason De Luigi, DO, MHSA, of Mayo in a chair, you’re flexion-based. That’s Clinic Sports Medicine Center in Tempe, where you’re likely to get contractures Wheelchair athletes should focus on rotator cuff, periscapular and pectoral warmups with Ariz. “You may be insensate, but it can still [permanent shortening of muscles],” stretches above the head, to each side and cause your body to go haywire.” De Luigi says. “As we age, after years of across the body.

1212 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 One of the most important things about stretching is maintaining‘‘ as much range as possible ... As we age, after years of sitting, being on computers, slumping and all of that, eventually we get tight and lose range of motion. — Arthur Jason De Luigi, DO,’’ MHSA © GETTY straightening your arms to lift get a few more degrees, where your chest off the floor and IMAGES/LWA/DANN other times you might just tear going only to the point where something,” De Luigi says. your hips remain on the floor. He says it’s best to learn how Rather than pushing your ribs to perform partner stretches TARDIF forward, which hardens the with trained individuals, learn back, squeeze your shoul- to listen to the -body’s re der blades closer to the spine sponse to those stretches, only while lifting through the top work with trusted partners and of the sternum. never push too hard. Hurdler stretches and modi- Stretching may be general or fied hurdler stretches focus on activity-specific, and there’s no hamstrings and quadriceps. hard and fast rule about how “People who initially begin much is too little or too much. a stretching routine may find “Some people do yoga for an their range is limited from long- hour three to five days a week. I time seated positions, but all wouldn’t say that’s over-stretch- wheelchair users would ben- ing but more full-body, global efit from stretching on a daily stretching, which serves a differ- basis,” De Luigi says. Partner stretches, including those with stretch bands, are a good ent purpose from a wheelchair way for wheelchair athletes to warm up. athlete who’s pitching a softball PASSIVE & ACTIVE STRETCHING game,” De Luigi says. Most stretching can be performed in- stretched across the body by a partner. Baseball or softball pitchers, for exam- dividually, but partner stretches have Then, the stretching arm would push ple, can focus on warming up and stretch- their place when performed correctly. gently against that partner’s hands be- ing their rotator cuffs and shoulders. Two options include passive stretching fore relaxing for another, deeper, gentle Wheelchair athletes should also consider and active stretching. stretch by that partner. warming up and stretching muscles that Passive stretching involves simply re- A multitude of studies have shown that will be used for propulsion. laxing the muscle that is to be stretched active stretching is beneficial immedi- De Luigi says athletes preparing for an by gently pressing against it. For a pas- ately prior to activity, while PNF stretching event should plan to spend 15 to 20 min- sive stretch, use one hand to cross the should be reserved following activity or utes stretching, but the jury is still out on body, grab the opposite arm above the with a rest session or general warmup be- whether to warm up or stretch first. elbow and pull it across the body while fore taking part in the intended activity. “If you stretch first before you warm up, relaxing the shoulder. “We have therapists work with pa- you avoid potential strains while warming Active stretching, proprioceptive neu- tients all the time. But if athletes are up, but the benefit of warming up first is romuscular facilitation (PNF) or post-iso- working with random partners, they may that you may get a better stretch because metric relaxation focus on making the find themselves paired with someone circulation of blood and increased heat in tight muscles do the work and may best who doesn’t know what is a soft end- the muscles and tendons allow for a bet- be performed with a trained partner. point versus a firm endpoint. There’s a ter stretch,” De Luigi says. That same tight shoulder would first be chance you can stretch and think you can S’NS

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 13 © GETTY IMAGES/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL

by Shelly Anderson

Paralympic athletes say a recent Netflix movie has been well-received and brought awareness.

he message doesn’t vary too much. Paralym- T pians and others involved in the adaptive sports community just want to be seen, heard and given their due. That apparently came across well in a documen- tary film called Rising Phoenix that was released last August. Paralympic athletes are still fielding feedback Stutzman, 36, who was born without arms, was en- about the film, which is available on Netflix and takes thusiastic about the project from the start. a wide-ranging look at the Paralympics. “I just want people to understand what we’re trying “I think they were happy with the way the Para- to get across and bring awareness to everything. What- lympics and disability was portrayed, which was our ever I can do to help, count me in,” says Stutzman, who whole goal of the film,” says wheelchair racer and 17- time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden of com- COURTESY OF NETFLIX ments she received. “It was nice to hear that. It always makes you nervous when you spend so much time on a film and you just want it all to be right and OK.” Showing Their Lives McFadden and Paralympic archer Matt Stutzman were the two Americans among the nine Para- lympians featured in the film. The others are Ital- ian wheelchair fencer Beatrice “Bebe” Vio, Austra- lian swimmer Ellie Cole, French sprinter and long jumper Jean-Baptiste Alaize, British sprinter Jonnie Peacock, Chinese powerlifter Cui Zhe, Australian wheelchair rugby player Ryley Batt and South Afri- can track athlete Ntando Mahlangu. Wheelchair racer and 17-time Paralympic medalist Tatyana McFadden, 31, who has spina bifida, also served as McFadden, who was born with spina bifida, above and right, is a producer for the documentary. featured in the Netflix movie Rising Phoenix.

14 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 BRUNO PAOLO IMAGES/ SQUIRE GETTY IMAGES/ALEXANDRE LOUREIRO IMAGES/ALEXANDRE JAMIE © GETTY © IMAGES GETTY © ILLUSTRATION © GETTY IMAGES/FEDBUL/NATTAPONSUKJIT BY KERRY RANDOLPH

© GETTY IMAGES/FRIEDEMANN VOGEL earned a silver medal in the 2012 London Paralympic Games and competed in the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympics. “One of the things that they did re- ally well was they captured be- hind the scenes, what it takes to get there.” Training regimens, obstacles, everyday life — even other sides to the athletes’ personalities, such as Stutzman’s penchant for cars — came through. Like any good sports film, Rising Phoenix has artistic footage of the athletes in ac- tion, and that includes every- thing that goes with these athletes’ disabilities. “They did some amazing capturing and getting close enough to see all the aesthet- ics — the muscles and their

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 15 COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Paralympic archer Matt Stutzman won a silver medal at the 2012 London Paralympics and is in the Netflix

SQUIRE movie Rising Phoenix. Stutzman was born without arms and uses his feet and mouth for archery. JAMIE

IMAGES Interesting Aspects GETTY © It was HTYT’s first film, and Campbell prosthetic legs or wheelchair,” McFadden says. “It pointed out a few interesting aspects captured it so elegantly and beautifully.” to the project. Vio, 23, a wheelchair fencer who lost parts of all Although McFadden says a conversation with four limbs because of meningitis, says her mother, another co-producer, Greg Nugent of the Interna- Teresa, cried when she watched the film, and Vio be- tional Paralympic Committee, at the 2016 Rio Para- lieves it opened a lot of eyes. Vio is a 2016 Rio de Ja- © neiro Paralympic champion in GETTY

the Foil B category. IMAGES/ Upon the documenta- NETFLIX PAOLO

ry’s release, a storm of ath- OF

letes and celebrities posted BRUNO

positive responses on social COURTESY media, from soccer’s David Beckham to tennis legend Bil- lie Jean King. It’s also reached aspiring adaptive athletes. Stutzman says he has been the only arm- less archer at high-level com- petitions, but after the film’s re- lease, he’s now heard about two more who have the poten- tial of making it to the Tokyo Paralympics this year (they were postponed from 2020 because of the novel coro- navirus, or COVID-19, pandemic). “I got a sense of how much the film had affected some people when I started getting texts or seeing tweets. The best ones were from mums of disabled girls or dads of disabled kids or brothers saying, ‘Wow, this has inspired my brother to go out and try a new sport,’” says Calum Campbell, director of research and development with London-based HTYT Films, the company that made A Paralympic Italian wheelchair fencer who lost parts of all the documentary before selling it to Netflix. “Things like four limbs because of meningitis, Beatrice “Bebe” Vio says her that were the things that made me go, ‘This was worth it.’” mom, Teresa, cried while watching Rising Phoenix.

16 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 NETFLIX OF COURTESY lympics planted the idea for the film, Campbell says it couldn’t just be a mission project from a filmmaker’s perspective. “The film was about telling stories,” he says. The impact came along with that. A more discouraging aspect came when HTYT, © which fully funded the project up front, found it diffi- GETTY cult “making film distributors believe that films about IMAGES/ALEXANDRE LOUREIRO things like disabled athletes can sell … They didn’t think it could be a success. That was a real challenge that we had,” Campbell says. Netflix helped prove them wrong. “Now, hopefully, there will be an opportunity in the future to do a lot more projects about things like

Paralympians because of this film,” Campbell says. South African track athlete Ntando Mahlangu, who had his legs ampu- There are so many stories that have just started tated at age 12, above and inset, won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio de to be told. Janeiro Paralympics and is featured in the Netflix film Rising Phoenix. Like McFadden, who rose from an orphanage in the Soviet Union to not only win those 17 Paralympic Stoke Mandeville, England. That grew over the years medals (seven gold, seven silver and three bronze), into what is now the Paralympic Games. but also become an activist. Her lawsuit while she As if to illustrate that Rising Phoenix was meant to was in high school led to the passage of the Maryland be made and be a success, Campbell offers an incred- Fitness and Athletics Equity for Students with Disabil- ible anecdote. ities Act in 2008. For 10 months, the filmmakers tried to find Gutt- And like Stutzman, a father of three who was down mann’s daughter, Eva Loeffler, to no avail. Then, a lit- and out about a decade ago when he saw someone tle luck appeared. bow hunting on TV, taught himself to shoot, shot a “It’s a crazy story,” Campbell says of the path to deer his first time hunting to put a lot of food on the getting Loeffler into the documentary. “Out of no- table, then got up the confidence to start entering ar- where, I was talking to my postman about the proj- chery competitions. ect. He said, ‘I know [Guttmann’s] daughter. [Loef- Just as the athletes who are chronicled in Rising fler’s] daughter is really good mates with [my] son.’ Phoenix have back stories, so do the Paralympics, and We never would have found her if not for that. That that history is another part of the film. made the film.” Campbell helped greatly with the research needed Well, that along with the insight and drive of the to tell the story that traces to Sir Ludwig Guttmann, modern-day Paralympians who shared their stories. who, in 1948, organized a sports competition for S’NS World War II veterans who had spinal-cord injuries in

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 17 SportsSports GoGo VirtualVirtual

COURTESY

OF CANDICE by John Groth CAESAR

hen the novel corona- At Home and by participating in virtual handcycling Wvirus (COVID-19) pan- and adaptive yoga classes and watching nutrition demic hit, Candice Caesar was at one webinars. She learned how to play chess. And she of her lowest points. learned healthier and better coping techniques to In early March, she’d fallen when starting out deal with her post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). on a run. Just two blocks from her Fresno, Texas, “I can tell you without these programs, I was in a re- home, the 48-year-old Army veteran couldn’t get ally bad headspace. I wouldn’t have made it. I went in touch with anyone to help her and had to slowly from being able-bodied to losing everything to get- crawl back to her house. ting a lot of it back to losing it when I was isolated,” She’d already sustained C6-8, L5 and S1 level spi- says Caesar, who was a walking quadriplegic be- nal-cord injuries and was paralyzed on her right fore her March fall. “It was a really bad time. I’m really side during a 1999 car accident but somehow pleased that they had all these programs.” pushed through those to walk again. Now, she was Although COVID-19 continues to cause many prob- back to her wheelchair, isolated and alone. But Par- lems, it hasn’t stopped PVA’s Sports and Recreation alyzed Veterans of America (PVA) Sports & Recre- Department from branching out. Instead, the depart- ation Department’s virtual sports and veteran pro- ment has developed a wide array of online group grams changed her life. workout programs and found fun, engaging ways for Instead of sitting around at home from April to No- member interaction. vember, she lost 17 pounds by competing in this past Adaptive yoga, wheelchair dancing, adaptive July’s National Veterans Wheelchair Games (NVWG) esports and fitness competitions are some of the pro-

18 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 COURTESY OF CANDICE CAESAR Paralyzed Veterans of America’s sports programs are finding new ways to help members virtually during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

With the different virtual ‘‘ activities, I found I can really cope. I can handcycle and really gut it out. I can be peaceful and use yoga, and I can also use my brain Candice Caesar participated in and not think about it and Paralyzed Veterans of America’s move chess pieces with adaptive cycling programs, both guys and play chess. outdoors and online, during the — Candice’’ Caesar novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

grams that have been offered this winter already. PVA Sports & Recreation Director Fabio Villarroel and Senior Associate Sports & Recreation Director Jen Purser are staying true to form in that the depart- ment’s mission is to keep paralyzed veterans active. “Part of our mission within our sports and recre- ation programs is to offer as many opportunities to COURTESY OF CANDICE CAESAR

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 19 COURTESY OF CANDICE CAESAR

maintain a healthy and active lifestyle,” Villarroel says. “I think that going virtually hasn’t changed that mis- sion. In fact, I think we’ve added more programming, and we’ve created more opportunities for people to stay active and engaged. Hopefully, that’s having a positive impact on their quality of life.” Virtual Programs Abound That quality of life involves plenty of activity. While PVA doesn’t know exactly what events it plans to hold this year, Villarroel says for at least the first quar- ter, the organization will focus more on virtual programs versus in-person programs since COVID-19 cases and contagion are growing again. State guidelines also play a factor, Villarroel says, since each state has different rules regarding COVID-19 protocols. Three programs have already started to get wheel- chair veterans moving around, though, including adaptive spin, yoga and wheelchair dance classes. PVA’s handcycling team members have been and will be teaching virtual spin classes via Zoom video conferencing throughout the winter. They’re offered six times each week — 5-7 p.m. ET Mondays and Fri- days, 9 -11 a.m. ET Tuesdays and Thursdays and 12-2 p.m. ET Wednesdays and Saturdays. Virtual adaptive yoga started in the fall with in- structor Audrey Lee teaching PVA members poses via Zoom. Classes, which are slow-paced and focus on deep breathing and fundamental poses, have Paralyzed Veterans of America has held virtual spin classes six days a week to help veterans stay active during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Kids and adults participated in Paralyzed Veterans been running from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET Mondays, of America’s (PVA) Wednesdays and Saturdays and are open to anyone. virtual family inclusive Caesar participated in both spin and adaptive dance classes. PVA teamed with the yoga classes. Wheelchair Dancers She joined the PVA Racing team back in 2017 and Organization to offer had done a little handcycling and participated in wheelchair dance and fitness classes. wheelchair marathons before. But she thought rid- ing on a trainer around a loop was boring. Once she started talking to people on Zoom, though, she had way more fun. Time and miles flew by. So much so that she rode 489 miles in November — the most she’s ever ridden in a monthlong span. “So, you’re sitting here along with someone on a Paralympic team, and you’re next to each other. You’re talking about bicycle maintenance. You’re telling other people about different types of hand- cycles,” Caesar says. COURTESY OF PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA

20 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 AMERICA VETERANS OF VETERANS PARALYZED OF COURTESY Paralyzed Veterans of America has offered virtual adaptive yoga classes Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays this winter.

Adaptive yoga and nutrition classes were just vember and boccia classes in December via Zoom. Ar- as beneficial. bino is an accomplished rifle marksman and has at- Before joining, Caesar hated yoga. But after com- tended the advanced rifle coach school at the Olympic mitting to weekly sessions, she’s noticed a differ- Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., and is also a ence. She’s less tense, has increased focus and atten- USA Boccia national certified coach. tion and is less likely to have depression or anxiety As for outdoor or other programs like hunting or attacks. Lee helped her attack her trouble spots and fishing, PVA encourages members to reach out to learn about better eating choices — less sugar and their local chapter and see what is available. Again, more water and vegetables. state guidelines can play a factor. But Villarroel hopes “I can take the principles I’ve used with breathing, and by April, the organization will start up some of its if I feel myself getting anxious, like with PTSD, I can do sports programs again. some breathing exercises and calm myself down. And I couldn’t do that before. I was isolated and in my house Growing Esports Community all the time. It just gets boring. I don’t have interaction One program PVA plans to definitely have this month with people. I didn’t realize I needed the connection will be its esports program. as much as I did. That’s what I learned from being shel- Thanks to PVA Sports & Recreation administrative as- tered,” Caesar says. “With the different virtual activities, sistant Travis Greaves, its egaming group took off this I found I can really cope. I can handcycle and really gut past spring. it out. I can be peaceful and use yoga, and I can also use An avid gamer himself, Greaves helped start PVA’s my brain and not think about it and move chess pieces esports group last April to prepare members for the with guys and play chess.” NVWG At Home esports tournament and taught adap- As for wheelchair dancing, this marked the first tive gamers controls for specific games, how to apply time PVA has offered it in any form. them and offered more advanced instruction as needed. Charles Merritt In November, PVA teamed up with the Wheel- Greaves taught participants Rocket League, a vehic- participates in chair Dancers Organization, a 501c3 nonprofit in San Paralyzed Veterans ular soccer game that can be played on Microsoft com- Diego, to offer family inclusive dance classes Friday of America’s adaptive esports program. nights and then wheelchair dance fitness classes on Saturdays right after the adap- tive yoga program. The family dance class featured hip hop, Latin jazz, Bollywood, island fusion, contemporary and coun- try-western line dance lessons. The fit- ness classes highlighted 20 dance styles from around the world. Both allowed par- alyzed veterans and able-bodied partici- pants and lasted six weeks until mid-De- cember. If those are all successful, they’ll continue them — providing PVA’s Sports and Recreation Department has the fund- ing it needs. Additionally, PVA held a virtual car show in early November for members to show- case their cars via Facebook. PVA Sports Program Manager John Arbino offered air gun instruction classes in October and No- COURTESY OF CHARLES MERRITT

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 21 LLC PSYONIX OF COURTESY ARTS ELECTRONIC OF COURTESY COURTESY OF ELECTRONIC ARTS LLC PSYONIX OF COURTESY

Originally, 20 members joined the group, but dur- ing the summer and early fall, interest dwindled some and it dropped to about 10 for each session. So, Greaves took a break and then, based on members’ suggestions and feedback, decided to switch games and play Apex Legends, a battle royale first-person puters, along with PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Nin- shooter, free-to-play game for PlayStation 4, Xbox tendo Switch gaming consoles. One and computers via Origin and Steam. In Rocket League, gamers first customize a rocket- Rocket League and Gamers pick their character and then join others to powered car before those cars are placed on a soccer Apex Legends, above, form a crew as they battle for fame and fortune on the are two games that field to face each other. Players then try to make their fringes of the frontier. Teams drop into the game in have been featured car hit a ball into an opponent’s goal. Matches are usu- for adaptive gamers groups of three, and there can be up to 20 teams total. ally five minutes long, and there is a sudden-death in Paralyzed Veterans The winner is the last team standing. of America’s esports overtime if they are tied after regulation play. Players “It really rewards good team play,” Greaves says. program, below. can pick up speed boosts, smash and destroy an oppo- “You have to be really communicative ’cause it’s not nent’s car and can earn points for hitting boosts and so structured. You’re all kind of out there in the wilder- performing certain moves. ness together type of thing, and you’re having to help COURTESY OF PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA other people, tell your group what you’re seeing type of thing. It’s really fun, and it builds a lot of teamwork, which was a big benefit to us.” VA & NVWG Adding More There’s teamwork in working with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), too. After having success with its online fitness competi- tion at this year’s NVWG At Home, the VA developed an- other virtual fitness competition — the NVWG Open. Athletes who were registered on the NVWG app par- ticipated in practice sessions from Nov. 13–20 before

22 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 COURTESY OF PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA COURTESY OF PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA COURTESY OF PARALYZED VETERANS OF AMERICA AMERICA VETERANS OF VETERANS PARALYZED OF COURTESY

Donald Bement, handcycle; Michael Guilbeaux, with medicine ball; LeToi Adams, with basketball; and David Cromwell, with gun, participated in the 2020 National Veterans Wheelchair Games At Home.

competing in three weekly competitions (Nov. 30, Dec. right now, too. In November, New York City wasn’t 7 and Dec. 14). They had three days to submit a home issuing permits for events involving more than 50 workout for judging. Results were announced each Fri- people, so Tostenrude says organizers only have ver- day, and finals were held Dec. 18 with prizes for winners. bal agreements with venues right now. But the main Additionally, NVWG Director Dave Tostenrude says goal is to take the NVWG beyond one week a year. the VA is looking at teaming up for an esports Madden “The engagement piece is so big for us in keeping up NFL football adaptive gaming competition in February. the spirit of the Games with the adaptive fitness piece “Our At Home program really educated us to the there,” Purser says. “There’s workout programming opportunities of doing more virtual events that help that’ll happen on a weekly basis and with the esports, engage veterans in sports and fitness throughout both sides of the house, the VA and PVA, are working to- the year. So, we’ve been looking at what the oppor- gether to do practice programming to encourage more tunities are. Esports is an easy one that we can reach veterans to get involved in esports and also to help out to people in their homes across the country to them practice before they get to the Games.” get involved,” Tostenrude says. S’NS As for the 2021 NVWG in New York City, those are still scheduled to go on as planned from Aug. 8–13

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 23 For the athletes who use it, the Boston Sports Institute is far more than a unique athletic facility with an accessible pool and sled hockey-ready ice rink.

by Lisa Van Loo hen Meredith Koch arrives at Bos- cessibility is one of the reasons,” says Koch, who swims Wton Sports Institute (BSI) for practice with Paralympic Sport Club Boston. “There are some a few times a week with her Paralympic swim pools that are super nice, but they don’t have parking. team, she never takes for granted how easy it Or they have parking, but you have to take two eleva- is for her to park, enter the building and get tors to get inside. No one has time to take 15 minutes to in the pool. use two elevators.” Restrooms are big and easy for her to access. Parking is abundant. And the de- A Refuge sign of the pool and its spacious deck allow swimmers who require wheel- At BSI, a new multi-use fitness facility in the Boston chairs to access the area with ease. suburb of Wellesley, Mass., accessibility was clearly For her, BSI is different. top of mind when it came to design, most notably “It’s personally one of my fa- with its pool and a fully sled hockey-compatible in- vorite pools to swim in, and ac- door ice rink.

24 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021

KIDDER

RANDOLPH

ALISON

KERRY OF BY

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January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 25 COURTESY OF ALISON KIDDER

COURTESY OF NORTHEAST SLED HOCKEY LEAGUE

Boston Sports Institute, a multi-use fitness facility in the Boston suburb of The $23.3 million, 130,000-square-foot, mixed-use slipping on the pool deck’s unusually grippy surface. Wellesley, Mass., recreation facility constructed by the Dacon Corpora- It’s those mindful courtesies that Koch says set BSI features a NHL regulation sled hockey tion and managed by the Edge Sports Group has six apart. More often, those types of conveniences accessible rink. athletics venues. BSI features two NHL-sized hockey seem to be overlooked. rinks, including the sled hockey accessible east rink, a “People don’t think of things because they don’t suspended track, indoor synthetic turf field, therapy need it or it doesn’t apply to them,” she says. pool and an accessible 25-yard competitive pool. For Koch, who has lived with incomplete para- A Luxury plegia since a piano fell on her in 2015, the pool is a refuge. It does have a lift, a common accessibility Brian Bardell, a member of the Boston ICE Storm feature at many swim facilities, but with the way sled hockey team, can relate. He appreciates BSI for the pool is designed, Koch doesn’t need to use it. all the little things that add up, one being the fact She’s not really fond of lifts anyway, because tech- that he can sit on a deep bench in the locker room to nical difficulties or personnel shortages could prepare for a game. make using it challenging. So, she’d rather be able Bardell, who lost his left leg to cancer in 2015, says to get in and out of a pool on her own. in other facilities he’s sometimes forced to change on And, at BSI, she can. Thanks to the absence of a the floor because the shallow benches don’t provide lip on the pool’s perimeter, she can wheel her chair much space for him to balance. right to the edge of the blocks and climb in herself. “Normally, benches are right against the walls Swimmers’ guide and support dogs have room to maximize floor space. For some disabilities, this to relax, and Koch’s teammates who use prosthet- makes changing very difficult,” says Bardell, 41, of ics and crutches don’t have to worry as much about Northbridge, Mass. “For someone with, say one leg,

26 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 COURTESY OF ALISON KIDDER

Most folks [playing] are not able to walk, so they’re in those ‘‘sleds, strapped in. So, you can’t walk onto the ice. You have to push yourself. If it’s level to the ground, it’s easier for the players to get on the ice.’’ — Mike Ciavarro if they are putting on their sock or boot, they don’t do this with a smile because we are just happy to have a second leg to balance on. If the bench is nar- get on the ice. So for us, BSI is a luxury.” row and against the wall, they can’t lean back for bal- Those subtle luxuries extend to the actual ice rink, ance and usually end up on the floor to change. Have too. Mike Ciavarro, president and commissioner of you seen the floors of most locker rooms?” the Northeast Sled Hockey League, says most often, Bardell also appreciates the accessible height of the teams and players in the league need to adapt locker room wall hooks, which are reachable from a to the rinks instead of the rinks offering adaptive seated position, and the space the BSI locker room features for them. But BSI is different. allows for wheelchairs to easily navigate and turn Most notably, the BSI rink includes an accessible around. It’s a rarity. bench. Traditional rinks utilize a recessed bench, set “Nearly every rink we play at is not very accessi- off the ice and protected by a half-wall, so players can ble, so we are quite used to cramming into small drop into the game by scaling the wall. To exit the ice, rooms, playing Tetris with equipment and wheel- players would need to step over a lip that separates chairs, changing on floors and maneuvering bath- the ice from the bench. rooms that aren’t the safest,” Bardell says. “We are It makes it challenging, if not impossible, for those always adapting to our environment, and we always strapped into sleds.

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 27 PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY OF ALISON KIDDER

The Boston Sports Institute pools have wide decks, above, to accommodate wheelchairs and pool lifts, left.

BSI is one of only a handful of sled hockey accessible rinks in the northeastern United States. When the teams in Ciavarro’s league play at non-accessible rinks, they use a portion of the ice as their quasi-bench, leaving players ex- posed to an ongoing game and removing a portion of the boards from play. An accessible bench, like the one at BSI, changes all that. “Now, you have the whole sheet of ice available to you as a player,” Ciavarro says. “Overall, it’s a better situation be- cause you have the players behind the boards, and it’s also a little safer.” The BSI rink separates players on the bench from the ice with a clear sheet of plexiglass, so those players can still see the game from a seated position. While Ciavarro says that setup dulls the sounds on the ice, he conceded it’s a small trade-off for safety and better accessibility. And the ease of entering and exiting the ice, on level ground, is priceless. “Most folks [playing] are not able to walk, so they’re in those sleds, strapped in. So, you can’t walk onto the ice. You have to push yourself,” Ciavarro says. “If it’s level to the ground, it’s easier for the players to get on the ice.”

28 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 Boston Sports Institute’s amenities include an indoor synthetic turf field. As a player, Bardell says he finds it dangerous to when no one is around to help. She makes things play at rinks that don’t offer accessible benches, as happen for herself — a lot — because she must. players charge to clear a puck or hope to use the At BSI, Koch doesn’t have to as much. And for her, boards for a solid bounce. Measured as a whole, that’s a welcome favor. Just as her Paralympic team- Bardell says the thought and planning that went mates understand each other’s unique needs and into the bathrooms, the space, the hooks, the nuances, so, too, does BSI. bench’s height and the accessible entry add real And that’s a good thing, especially for Koch, who value to the experience at BSI. visits the facility several times a week, putting in 2,700 yards in the pool each go. The water is one place her body doesn’t need assistance in order No Assistance Needed to perform. Koch feels the same way. She never considered “That was where my body was able to function as competitive swimming until she experienced what it had been used to, as opposed to learning some- the water did for her paralysis while recovering in a thing new. It finally felt like something recogniz- rehabilitation facility after her injury. able,” Koch says of swimming. “It’s the only sport I She readily admits she doesn’t have decades of ex- do where I don’t need an outside device.” perience to compare notes on multiple facilities, but For more information, visit as someone who uses a wheelchair to get around, bostonsportsinstitute.com. she now looks at the world with a different eye. S’NS Koch notices curbs that box her in while park- ing. She sees when doors don’t open with a button. Koch figures out how to reach items from a high shelf

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 29 People

Life-Changing Decision small hockey sticks in her hands help legs, Doederlein’s range of motion was by John Groth / photos courtesy of David Doederlein her swoosh up and down the ice, all limited growing up. while trying to pass, shoot, score, ma- She was adopted at 21 months by ore than three years ago, at just 14 neuver around other players and avoid Phoenix couple David and Fami Do- years old, Lera Doederlein chose M jarring hits. ederlein and had to wear knee-ankle- to have both her legs amputated be- “I was pretty terrible when I first foot orthosis (KAFOs) braces and used cause of a joint disease. She calls it the started, but there’s something about crutches throughout her childhood. best decision she’s ever made. being on the ice that just felt really free- She had a handful of surgeries, one of Soon after rehab, the teenager found ing and independent to me, something which resulted in one of her legs hav- sled hockey. Her first that before my surgery I never really ing stunted growth — meaning one adaptive sport be- had,” says Doederlein, who is now a high leg would stop growing and the other came her ulti- school junior, plays for the San Diego would continue. Sports weren’t too big mate favorite. Ducks sled hockey team in California and on her radar, either. Sitting inside is also a member of the U.S. national de- So, in summer 2017, after talking with her sled, the velopmental women’s sled hockey team. doctors and her adoptive parents, Do- ederlein chose to have surgery on both TAKING ON THE CHALLENGE legs — cutting them off at the knees Born in Russia with ar- — making her a double amputee. throgryposis, or multiple It took her four months to fully re- joint contractures in her cover. Now, her new legs have micro-

At 17 years old, Lera Doederlein, above and No. 10 in right photo, is on the U.S. national developmental women’s sled hockey team and plays for the San Diego Ducks sled hockey team in California.

3030 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 Lera Doederlein, who was born with arthrogryposis, decided to have both her legs amputated at age 14. After trying sled hockey early on in rehab, it has turned into her favorite sport.

processors in them, and although it’s different, she admits it’s better. So was the choice to try sled hockey. While meeting with her prosthetist to try out her fitted legs, clinician Mike Schul- enberg, a single-leg, above-the-knee amputee himself, started talking to her. He played for the Arizona Coyotes sled hockey team and told her that double am- putees could be super-fast. He said it was the best position to be in and convinced her to come to a Coyotes practice and try. “Even before getting on the ice, I was very nervous. I was looking at people on the ice and I was like, ‘How are they doing this? This sport looks incredibly hard, and

She’s so athletic, seems very natural, understands the big‘‘ picture of any sport, is able to be at the right place at the right time. She’s a sponge. Like, you give her feedback, and she quickly implements it. She’s incredible. She is going to be a Paralympian.’’ — Sarah Bettencourt it takes a lot of skill,’” says Doederlein, youth team and moved her way up to court, who has a rare neurological disor- who was the only teen on the team. the adult team. der called cerebral inflammatory disor- But Coyotes players taught her each That’s where she met Ducks sled hockey der. “She had the world at her fingertips, step — how to hold the sticks, move on player Sarah Bettencourt, who is now one and I wanted her to realize that and fig- the ice and pass, shoot and check. And of Doederlein’s best friends. ure out what her passion was. It didn’t they let her have fun with it. Bettencourt, who founded the Ducks in have to be sled hockey; it could be any- “A lot of them were veterans … It was 2014, remembers meeting Doederlein the thing. But I wanted her to have every really helpful because we’re all in kind of first time before an early winter practice. tool, every resource that she could pos- similar situations being differently able- Doederlein barely said two words to her. sibly have. And, yeah, she’s just taken it bodied, obviously,” Doederlein says. “So, Bettencourt chalked it up to shyness and and skyrocketed. She’s incredible.” it was really nice to be able to have a that Doederlein was still adjusting to her Doederlein thinks the world of Bet- community of people who understand new injuries and seeing the sport. tencourt, too. In fact, in 2018, Doede- what you’re going through and then But once Bettencourt saw Doeder- rlein thought about trying out for the they’re able to teach me what they know, lein’s talent on the ice, she wanted to national women’s sled hockey team. But too, which is really awesome.” help Doederlein be successful. she didn’t have the confidence to go “I kind of took her under my wing be- for it. Bettencourt pushed her the next FINDING A FRIEND cause I saw the potential in her, and I just year, and she made the team. In 2018, Doederlein’s family moved wanted to give her every opportunity “She always came to practice with to San Diego, and she joined the San and let her realize that she could literally this positive attitude, ready with a bun- Diego Ducks. She started out on their do anything she wanted,” says Betten- dle of energy, ready to give 120 per-

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 31 Lera Doederlein, right, says the hardest part of sled hockey is balancing everything — skating, shooting, hitting and mental aspects — all at once.

right-handed and admits shooting with her left hand is still tough. Sled hockey isn’t Doederlein’s only sport. She also handcycles, surfs, does Nordic skiing and just started working on biathlon. Doederlein already had the competi- tive drive, but with Bettencourt’s and oth- ers people’s support, especially during the past year, her confidence has grown. “She’s so athletic, seems very natural, understands the big picture of any sport, is able to be at the right place at the right cent, 115 percent in a game,” Doeder- But Doederlein says she can still improve. time. She’s a sponge. Like, you give her lein says of Bettencourt. “And she never She acknowledges the hardest part is bal- feedback, and she quickly implements it. let me quit, even if we were tired, even ancing everything — skating, shooting, hit- She’s incredible,” Bettencourt says. “She is if we had had a bad day, she would ting and the mental game — all at once. going to be a Paralympian.” never let us quit and pushed us to be “The biggest thing I’ve worked on our best.” is shooting,” says Doederlein, who’s S’NS

3232 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 Innovations

New Clothing Designs Freelance clothing designer Sarah by Jennifer Best / photos courtesy of Sarah Klecker Klecker designed and implemented Velox reelance clothing designer Sarah Team USA Racing FKlecker envisions a future in which Kit & Team USA Weatherproof Apparel Paralympic athletes are treated like the for her master’s degree elite athletes they are, complete with capstone project. uniforms that are smart, fit and func- tional. But she’s not just dreaming. of Oregon master’s de- Working with Paralympic star athletes gree capstone project Susannah Scaroni, Arielle Rausin, Yen this past summer. Hoang and Adam Bleakney, Klecker’s risen “A lot of times, to the challenge in the design and imple- when you’re looking mentation of Velox Team USA Racing Kit & toward innovation, Team USA Weatherproof Apparel. you look toward mar- “I fully acknowledge this product is kets that aren’t being not perfect. There are so many improve- served, and wheel- ments to be made. I would love to see chair athletes don’t even seem to be on body position is different, the general this become a bigger thing,” Klecker the radar. The sports product industry is physiology of the sport is very different, says. “Let’s address the needs of these not really including wheelchair athletes yet they’re given and wearing the same athletes because they are some of the in their product design,” Klecker says. apparel as the Olympic track and field team,” Klecker says.

A VALUABLE RESEARCH TRIP While on a research trip to the Univer- sity of Illinois, she realized the connect- edness of runners across abilities. There, she wheeled a racing chair of her own and experienced firsthand the down- sides of upright apparel for wheelchair athletes. Among them were poor cov- erage on the backside, bunching fabric on the front and athlete numbers poorly placed for viewer visibility. She noted the fitted uniforms for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Paralympic Games were too constrictive in the shoulders for wheelchair athletes. The rubbery protru- Sarah Klecker worked with a handful of Paralympic athletes, including those at the University sions on the singlets and leggings, de- of Illinois, for her University of Oregon master’s degree capstone project. signed to provide a more aerodynamic fit for standing athletes, forced wheel- best in the world. They train hard, and Klecker studied apparel design at the chair athletes out of their fitted chairs. they deserve products that allow them University of Minnesota, where she ran “Sizing between para athletes can also to compete at their best.” track and cross-country before mov- be so different than traditional fit systems. Klecker, a lifelong runner, began explor- ing to Oregon to continue her studies in They may have a petite lower body as a re- ing sportswear for adaptive athletes while sports product design. sult of atrophy, but their shoulders are built researching existing markets, materials “It was interesting looking at wheel- by massive training regimes,” Klecker says. and products with a goal of creating some- chair racing athletes’ connection to track After the first trip to meet with ath- thing innovative for her 2020 University and field and the running world, but their letes in January, novel coronavirus

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 33 Sarah Klecker’s concerns for wheelchair athletes were ergonomic fit based upon the athlete’s position, thermoregulation and sweat management. She incorporated a laser-cut vent on the singlet’s front to allow more air flow, left, and made sure the USA logo was prominent, right.

These push gloves, left and right, are designed to protect the hands, minimize wrist strain and prevent overuse injury without impacting performance.

(COVID-19) pandemic travel bans kicked line of the singlet, but with wheelchair She even looked at graphic placement. in, leaving Klecker and the athletes to racing athletes, when they get really “If you look at traditional track and work remotely. She spent her second hot, sweat pools on the stomach be- field uniforms, the national identifiers are term working in her parents’ basement, cause you’re leaning on your thighs,” on the front of the chest. On wheelchair further studying, designing, crafting, Klecker says. athletes during competition, you can’t mailing samples back and forth and on- So, she incorporated a laser-cut vent see what country they’re from,” Klecker line conferencing to discuss results of on the front of the singlet to manage says. “Media exposure is a big thing in wear tests and fittings. sweat and allow more air flow. The the Paralympics, getting fans excited to thermoregulation sleeves worn by cheer for athletes from their country, but FOCUSING ON FIT runners serve a secondary purpose for you can’t even tell who’s who.” Klecker’s chief area of concern was er- wheelchair athletes: protection from Klecker included USA down the cen- gonomic fit based upon the positioning fenders. The Velox uniform incorporates ter of the back, as well as on the right of the athlete, but she also looked at ther- a four-way stretch knit with Kevlar for sleeve, for better visibility from the moregulation and sweat management. abrasion resistance. stands and cameras. “The vents on running apparel are “If they miss a stroke, they hit the in- GORE-TEX provided materials that centered on key sweat zones, like the sides of their arms. There can be chafing give Velox weatherproof apparel with a back of the knees and along the back against the chair,” Klecker says. greater emphasis on mobility through

3434 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 Made of GORE-TEX, this rain jacket has a breathable and waterproof membrane, left, and two-way mechanical panels designed to stretch across the chest, around the shoulders and at the elbow to prevent the cuff from riding up on the wrist, center.

It was interesting looking at wheelchair racing athletes’ connection‘‘ to track and field and the running world, but their body position is different, the general physiology of the sport is very different, yet they’re given and wearing the same apparel as the Olympic track and field team.’’ — Sarah Klecker

the shoulders. The breathable mem- weatherproofing to leggings to pro- but about lessons learned. She’s open to brane remains waterproof while provid- tect against water that kicks up from the continuing product design and develop- ing two-way, mechanical panels designed wheels and zipped cuffs on leggings for ment for para athletes should the oppor- to stretch across the chest, around the easier donning and doffing. tunity come along. shoulders and at the elbow to prevent the A redesign of Rausin’s Ingenium 3D “The biggest thing I’ve been doing is talk- cuff from riding up on the wrist. printed gloves strives to minimize overuse ing about it, making people aware that this “The rain jacket was the hero piece injury while incorporating a performance is a larger issue. There’s this whole adap- the athletes were most excited about,” aesthetic with metallic finishes. tive sports space that the apparel world and Klecker says. “They may not train out- “I was inspired by the sprinting spikes, sports performance world is not address- doors a ton in winter because it can be how those plates are metallic and are vi- ing,” Klecker says. “The more I can talk about dangerous, but they will race marathons sually stimulating,” Klecker says. “Those the projects and make people aware of this regardless of weather, like 2018 with his- wrist movements are insane and de- thing the industry is lacking, I’m hoping torically awful conditions.” serve attention.” some change comes because of it.” She also addressed wheelchair athletes’ For more information about the project, specific needs by moving front pockets, HOPING FOR A CHANCE to see the uniforms or to contact Klecker entirely unusable for wheelchair athletes Since graduating in June, Klecker has about her services, visit sklecker.com/velox- on the go, to bicep pockets, providing been talking not just about her project, spd-capstone-project. S’NS

January 2021 | SPORTS ’N SPOKES 35 RECREATION FOR THE WHEELCHAIR SPORTS ENTHUSIAST On The Sidelines

BASKETBALL More than 125 teams from across the country will take part in nine tournaments Championship Series Set as part of the National Championship Series. For information, visit nwba.org. he National Wheelchair Basketball As- Tsociation (NWBA) has made revisions to the 2021 NWBA Toyota National Champion- PARALYMPICS ship Series schedule. The NWBA had announced last July Tokyo Games Update that the championship series would take ey international leaders involved with place over several weeks at multiple sites the Tokyo Summer Olympics and Para- this spring. However, the association de- K lympics say positive progress is being made cided to make adjustments to the sched- to ensure the Games take place later this year. ule based on feedback from a member- For the first time since February 2020, In- ship survey, as well as input from divisional ternational Olympic Committee (IOC) Co- leadership and key stakeholders. ordination Commission Chair John Coates NAGY The sites for the events remain un- and IOC President Thomas Bach returned IMAGES/MELINDA changed. The Intercollegiate, Adult and GETTY to Japan for the joint IOC, International © Junior division tournaments will still be Paralympic Committee (IPC) and Tokyo held in Wichita, Kan., while the Women’s 2020 Project Review. Division championship will take place Last November’s review in Phoenix. was meant to help reaf- However, the NWBA announced firm the full commit- changes to some of the dates last Novem- ment of all partners ber to allow more of an opportunity for to deliver Olym- members to participate and attend. pic and Paralympic The updated schedule is as follows with Games that would new dates listed in bold print: be suitable for what is hoped to be a Intercollegiate Division post-novel corona- Women’s and Men’s March 11–13 virus (COVID-19) pan- Heskett Center, Wichita State University demic world this July, Wichita, Kan. August and September. IPC President Andrew Adult Division Parsons joined the meeting remotely and Divisions I, II & III lauded the historical planning and prepara- June 24–26 tion for major sporting events. Quoted in a Wichita Hoops & Wichita Sports Forum November press release, he says “no stone is Wichita, Kan. being left unturned” in the effort to ensure the safety and success of the Summer Games. Junior Division “This level of work and commitment by Prep, Varsity and Varsity Invitational all Games delivery partners will not be in June 25–27 vain,” Parsons says. “After a terrible 2020, Wichita Hoops & Wichita Sports Forum we are determined that 2021 will bring new Wichita, Kan. hope. The Olympic and Paralympic Games Women’s Division Tokyo 2020 will be a celebration of human July 23–25 diversity and ability, a global showcase of Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center resilience and the starting point for a bet- Phoenix ter, more inclusive post-corona world.”

3636 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 All parties agreed on the im- pic Games University can now get some help portance of clear and timely com- examples to with their tuition. munications over the coming help groups The university announced last months, with a project to develop and their October that it has expanded out- a series of playbooks outlined dur- partners of-state tuition waivers for its new ing meetings. Created by the IOC, deliver in- PARALYMPIC.ORG/PUBLICATIONS wheelchair tennis program. The IPC and Tokyo 2020, these play- clusive waivers allow students to pay books will be designed as guide- sporting events. their four-year tuition at the in- lines and include important infor- Additionally, the document has state cost, which can help make mation about the measures that been created with a wider audi- Clemson a more affordable option will be in place and what it will ence in mind to assist similar orga- for potential wheelchair tennis mean for the Games experience. nizers and hosts across the globe players from across the country. A key element within these play- in creating a more accessible and Jasmine Townsend, director of books will be details of COVID-19 inclusive environment. The guide the Clemson University Adaptive countermeasures. Discussions on features details on a wide range of Sports and Recreation Lab in the De- this subject focused on creating a areas, including accommodation, partment of Parks, Recreation and toolbox of measures ready to imple- transportation, venue layout, ac- Tourism Management, says waiver ment, depending on the situation cess to information and services, programs are key to growing a suc- starting in July. Updates were pro- along with best practices for dis- cessful adaptive sports program. vided on the development of vac- ability and awareness training. “Making tuition more affordable cines, testing and infection control. The guide was put together fol- to potential adaptive student-ath- A key part of this process has lowing an Accessibility Workshop letes gives them an increased in- been learning from the resump- held in December 2019 in Bonn, centive to travel to Clemson to play tion of top-tier sports across the Germany, home of the IPC. With and earn their degree,” Townsend world. It was noted that the return the support of the German Fed- says. “Clemson leads the way in of sports has also contributed to eral Ministry of the Interior, Build- many different types of athletic increasing confidence, particularly ing and Community, the work- programs, and these waivers help in Japan, where professional base- shop allowed the IPC to refine and us attract the best and brightest ball games have been welcoming validate content of the guide with people to our campus so we can thousands of spectators. a wide range of stakeholders. start to also lead the way in colle- The Tokyo Summer Olympics Representatives from the Inter- giate adaptive sports.” are set for July 23–Aug. 8, while national Olympic Committee, fu- Clemson has offered out-of- the Paralympics will take place ture organizing committees for state tuition waivers for stu-

PPO IFLI Aug. 25–Sept. 5. Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024 and Los An- dent-athletes in its Paralym- S/M GE MA Y I TT For more information, visit geles 2028 (LA28), industry experts pic soccer program since ET G tokyo2020.org/en. and commercial partners attended 2017. The university’s adap- © and provided feedback that was tive tennis team began last IPC Accessibility Guide integrated into the document. March. Team member Jeff The guide is available for free at Townsend says the waivers will new guide from the Interna- paralympic.org/publications. help expand the program. Ational Paralympic Commit- “Our ultimate goal is to create a tee (IPC) is looking to help organi- thriving adaptive sport community zations, cities and other groups to TENNIS here at Clemson,” he says. “These stage inclusive events. Clemson Tuition Help waivers are an important step to- Launched last November, the wards ensuring adaptive athletes IPC’s Accessibility Guide offers a heelchair tennis players come to recognize Clemson Univer- combination of guidelines, recom- Wfrom outside of South Car- sity as the best place to compete on mendations, construction build- olina who are interested in play- a collegiate level.” ing codes and previous Paralym- ing collegiate tennis at Clemson S’NS

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38 SPORTS ’N SPOKES | January 2021 Final Frame

Mary Free Bed Pacers’ Charles McDonald, left, tries to block Darrell Mauerman of the Utah Wheelin’ Jazz during the January 2020 Wheelchair Basketball D1 Invitational Tournament at Ability360 Sports & Fitness Center in Phoenix. Photo by Christopher Di Virgilio.

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