What’s it like to soar through the air as people cheer you on? Long jumper Lex Gillette says it’s like being a superhero.
“It definitely is a really cool feeling,” he says. “It makes you feel larger than life.”
Gillette competes with the aid of a guide, who stands at the end of the runway. The guide claps his hands and yells “Fly, fly, fly!” That lets Gillette know where to run. Gillette counts out exactly 16 strides before making his jump.
He has been totally blind since he was 8 years old, but Gillette never let his disability become a barrier. He holds the world record for the longest jump by a totally blind athlete: 22 feet, 2 inches. He’s already won five silver Paralympic medals. Now Gillette hopes to win gold in Paris.*
“There’s going to be different challenges and things that might try to trip you up,” he says. “But always believe that you have what it takes to keep pushing forward.”
*At press time, Gillette still needed to officially earn a spot on the U.S. Paralympic team.