Episode #101: Gold Medal Mindset: Blind Swimmer set to represent USA in 2024 Paralympics

• Tonya • @waterprairie (  / waterprairie  ) • @waterprairie (  / waterprairie  ) • @waterprairie (  / waterprairie  ) • Water Prairie Chronicles (   / @waterprairie  ) • waterprairie.com (https://waterprairie.com) • @water.prairie (  / water.prairie  ) • Support Water Prairie (https://paypal.me/waterprairie) The Water Prairie Chronicles Podcast airs new episodes every Friday at Noon EST! Find the full directory at waterprairie.com/listen (https://waterprairie.com/listen) . Mind over matter: The Path to the Paris 2024 Paralympics as a Blind Swimmer! Show Notes: Evan Wilkerson: A Rising Star in 2024 Paralympics Swimming In a recent interview, 17-year-old Evan Wilkerson shared his inspiring journey towards the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Despite being visually impaired, Evan has excelled in swimming, showcasing remarkable determination and talent. Hailing from Wake Forest, North Carolina, Evan began his swimming career at the age of six and is now a member of the New Wave Swim Team in Raleigh. His classification as an S12 swimmer means he competes with other athletes who have moderate visual impairment. A turning point in Evan’s career came when he qualified for the U.S. Paralympic team after a stellar performance at the Parapan American Games in Santiago, Chile. There, he not only secured a silver medal in the 100-meter backstroke but also surprisingly won bronze in the 100-meter breaststroke, an event he had minimal training for. Evan’s journey to the 2024 Paralympics in Paris has been marked by intense training and unwavering mental fortitude. He emphasized the crucial role of mental strength in overcoming the physical demands of the sport. His dedication to his craft is evident in his rigorous training schedule, which includes early morning workouts and weightlifting. As Evan prepares to represent the United States on the world stage, he expressed both excitement and nerves. He shared insights into the training camp he will attend before the Paralympics, highlighting the importance of altitude training for enhancing athletic performance. Evan’s story is a testament to the human spirit and the power of perseverance. His journey is an inspiration to athletes with disabilities and a reminder that with hard work and determination, anything is possible. Support Evan’s Paralympic Journey: https:/www.givesendgo.com/EvanCompeteswithTeamUSA/donate Follow Evan on Instagram: @newwavewilkerson_evan (  / newwavewilkerson_evan  ) Resources to Understand Paralympic Swimming Terms: • Understand the Classes in Paralympic Swim: • https://lexi.global/sports/swimming/ • More Class Information from World Para Swimming: • https://www.paralympic.org/swimming/c... • PDF of the Codes of Exception in Paralympic Swimming: • https://www.paralympic.org/sites/defa... Are you getting our newsletter? If not, subscribe at https://waterprairie.com/newsletter Support our podcast and help us share more incredible stories by making a donation at Buy Me A Coffee. Your contribution makes a significant impact in bringing these stories to light. Thank you for your support! • https://BuyMeACoffee.com/waterprairie Music Used: “LazyDay” by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/... Artist: http://audionautix.com/ Evan Wilkerson is a 17-year-old athlete from Wake Forest, North Carolina, who will be proudly representing Team USA at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris! Evan’s journey to the Paralympics began at the young age of 6 when he joined his first swim team. Despite having Leber’s Congenital Amaurosi...