Turning Setbacks Into Strength

In 2021, I knew I was in the best shape of my life. The workouts confirmed it. Yet I opened the season with two lackluster races, well below my standard.

When I toed the line, I was racing in the able-bodied (Olympic) field, and internally, I felt like I didn’t belong. It was like being called up to varsity before your instincts catch up.

Then I ran over a minute slower than my personal best in a 3000m at a local meet. That moment forced an honest conversation with myself.

The thoughts crept in:
I was once paralyzed.
They have an advantage.
They’re just faster.

Those weren’t truths; they were excuses.
If I wanted to be the first athlete under 3:50 (1500m) in my classification and truly compete at an elite level, I had to stop focusing on what I lacked and start leveraging what I’d been given.

What if the physical therapy appointments, the life-altering news from doctors, and relearning how to do everything with my other hand weren’t setbacks, but the very reasons I could thrive at this level?

There’s a reason some people rise to the top. Many ultra-successful individuals live with ADHD, amputations, vision impairments, or cerebral palsy. Their path just looks different.

Success isn’t linear. The ones who make it don’t wait for perfect conditions; they find a way.