Growing up with spina bifida,
I always had this thought, like,
"Man, it would be cool if I could compete
with other people on wheelchairs."
A lot of people think once they're maybe 65 or so,
they should slow down a little bit.
But I can't believe I'm 85, I really can't.
To be on the only
deaf men's basketball team in the nation
fills me with an incredible sense of pride.
RIO 2016 7 MATCH POINTS - GER - RAU
I will never forget when one of my friends told me
to stick to a sport I can handle.
I'm just out there.
My motto is, "Show up fat, and refuse to leave."
Crossed finish line, got medal.
Keep your body and your mind active.
You'll look at the world in a different way.
RIO 2016 PARALYMPIC GAMES OPENING CEREMONY
The Maracanã might be lit up by the pyrotechnic display
but they were certainly fired up
by Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham.
Hey, Wheelz!
I love WCMX because it is my meditation.
It's a way for me to express my creativity,
and just open my eyes to what is possible.
It has shown me that just in life in general,
being able to manage your fear and your thoughts,
has really helped me in so many ways.
My name is Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham,
and I ride WCMX.
WCMX stands for Wheelchair Motocross.
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA
We're here in my hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada.
I was born and raised in Vegas, and I love it out here.
Right now, we're driving up the street
from where I live. Every morning, I drive up here
for my cardio and some training.
I park my truck at the top of the road,
and then, I proceed to bomb down the hill
in my wheelchair.
And then, when I get to the bottom,
I gotta push my chair all the way back up.
So, it's kind of like a forced workout.
Kinda freaks people out
to see you do it on a wheelchair, just, like,
fly into an intersection, but... part of the fun.
MEADOWS ELKHORN SPRINGS
As far as spina bifida goes, I'm pretty blessed
to not have it as bad as it could possibly be.
I have pretty good movement in my hips and my core.
And then, as you go further down, like, my knees,
there's less movement there. And then,
from the knees down, there's pretty much,
like, no movement at all. But in the skate park,
being able to have some of that core control
has really helped with, like,
the 360s, and some of the tricks.
PM 5:04 SEP.17 1993
Growing up with spina bifida,
I sure did spend a lot of time in the hospital.
To this day, I've had 23 surgeries.
I used crutches, pretty much
till I was about eight years old.
Eventually, the wheelchair was just, like,
a big relief for me. It was just so much more fun.
I always viewed it as, like, a toy or as a bike, you know?
Throughout my childhood,
I was just always pumped on action sports.
I'd always go around the neighborhood
with my friends, and they're on their bikes
and skateboards, and I was on my wheelchair.
You know, it was always just a way for me
to keep up with my friends.
So, the first time I actually dropped
into a skatepark, I was eight years old.
By the time I was 14,
I had landed the first backflip on a wheelchair.
It really opened my eyes to what was actually possible.
NEVADA LEGLESS
So, we're here in the shop.
This is where I repair my wheelchairs,
and do some welding, and some grindin',
and try to get 'em back on their wheels.
This is the mega ramp chair.
This is the one I do all the big, scary jumps on.
The first time I got to a Nitro Circus practice,
it was absolutely terrifying.
It was this giant, towering ramp,
fifty-five feet tall, and...
You know, I signed the waiver,
and they got me to the top of the ramp.
And I remember just being up there,
and I was just like...
"Man, like, this is so scary."
And so, my first time actually down the Nitro ramp,
I went for a backflip,
and I actually landed, pretty much, wheels down
into the foam,
and everyone was just, like, cheering,
and coming up and tellin' me
that I had made it into the crew.
And from that point on,
they brought me on the world tour, and...
it's been all down-hill from there.
No!
You can see the excitement down here
from all of these people.
CITY OF FONTANA SKATE PARK
We are out here at Fontana, South Skate Park.
We're here for the SoCal WCMX Showdown.
It's the National Championships of WCMX.
I always had this thought, like, "Man, it would be cool
if I could compete with other people
on wheelchairs."
Fast forward a few years to where we are now...
to be able to have WCMX competitions,
and a WCMX World Championship,
it's an absolute dream come true.
-Yeah! -Yeah!
Troy McGuirk is the event organizer,
and he sets up these WCMX competitions,
and gets the word out there.
When I started SoCal WCMX in 2016,
we found this park here,
and it's the most wheelchair friendly park
in the world.
And so a lot of our stuff is done based out of here.
Tony is gonna be a really good one to watch.
He's been riding for a year now,
out here killin' it.
How I got here is kind of a long story.
I broke my back two years ago snowboarding in Big Bear.
I took a year to get myself rehabilitated
and figure out life.
And last year, I actually came to this event,
and met Aaron. He sparked a fire in me.
And ever since then, I just figured out
that this is what I wanna do for the rest of my life.
I got one trick left, one trick.
-Can I go first? -Snoopy,
she's one of my favorite riders to watch out here.
I mean, she's calculated, but she's fearless
at the same time,
and it's a lot of fun to watch her.
My name is Alyssa Montenegro, I'm 14 years old,
but everybody calls me Snoopy,
because that's honestly my favorite Peanuts character.
I got starred with WCMX
when I went to go get measured for my tennis chair.
And so, I was sitting there, and I was popping wheelies,
and Troy, you know, saw me, and he was like,
"You should come out to the skatepark,
try this out." So, I tried out skating,
and I fell in love with it right then and there.
So instead of getting a tennis chair,
I got a skating chair instead.
Right now they're hoping to get it into the Paralympics.
And so, she definitely wants to try that there.
-Yeah. -Wishing for that, actually.
Unfortunately, crashing
is a really big part of what I do.
I've developed this ability to crash and not get hurt.
Anyone that rides WCMX has to have this ability
to not really let the pain of the crash deter you.
I mean, for me, when I take a really hard slam,
I try to learn from it, you know.
Each crash leaves a hint of what you did wrong,
and so you just try to make an adjustment.
I've been seein' you two just progress like crazy,
and so I'm pumped to be able to shred.
You feeling good about tomorrow, though?
-Yeah. I'm excited. -Yeah?
You know, have you tried that rail over there?
-You hittin' that thing? -Yeah.
I did that one today for the best trick.
Get the hands in the air.
-No. There's no reason. -You got that.
I always just keep my hands, like, close to my wheels,
or usually, like, even on my wheels.
So when you're showin' off is when you get hurt.
Hot dog in, and then smack.
Goin' for the blind rail.
When you go up to it, level your chair out
when you go off.
And when push, just let the chair fall,
and it'll naturally fall on it.
Just, like, maybe, like couples chillin' pushes,
just like bump, bump.
I believe in you.
This is the one. Just remember,
hit that rail, you wanna be leaning forward a little bit.
Yes! Yes!
-Yeah. Yes. -More forward.
-I think you got this. -You think?
Yeah, 'cause every time you go down,
you're leaning back, and trying to grab one of us.
SOCIAL WCMX COMPETITION FINALS DAY
All right. So, eleven, we're gonna be kicking off.
You guys are gonna be doing two 90 second runs.
And then we're gonna end with your best trick.
The event just kicked off.
Right now we got the kids killin' it.
Coming up with a lot of speed, look at that bank drop.
Get ready to fire this thing up.
Women's Division coming up here in just a few moments, guys.
Y'all get ready for some action.
We got one of the crowd favorites,
Snoopy Montenegro!
Go, Snoopy!
Yeah, Snoop.
You know, Snoopy's got some tricks in store for you guys.
We got the drop rail all set up for her.
Super technical.
-Yeah, Snoopy! -Nice.
That was nice.
WCMX champion,
Aaron Wheelz Fotheringham!
Yeah!
Let's hear it one more time for the young guns
at Divisions Two and Division Three, all right!
Women's Division,
Snoopy Montenegro's taking the first place.
Spark with the women's division, y'all give it up.
Let's give it up one more time
for the women's division, y'all.
All right.
Okay, let's give it up for Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham,
taking first and defending his title here
at the North American Championship of WCMX.
Aaron is huge to our support,
because he shows what's possible.
The camaraderie he has with the kids,
and the time that he'll take
to talk to 'em, and spend with them,
you know, that's huge to have somebody like that,
that's where he is
in the sport, hang out with a young WCMXer.
There's been talk of WCMX one day
maybe makin' it to the Paralympics...
to be able to have it on the main stage, you know,
where people from all around the world
are competing in the sport, I mean...
that would be pretty cool.
GALLAUDET BISON
7:51
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY WASHINGTON D.C.
I've always wanted to go to Gallaudet University...
JOHN WERNER JR GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY FRESHMAN
...because it's unique.
It's the only university that provides
the kind of education and access it does to deaf people.
To be on the only
deaf men's basketball team in the nation
fills me with an incredible sense of pride.
You yell so loud! Bring it down, keep it down. Wow.
GALLAUDET UNIVERSITY HAS
THE ONLY DEAF MEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TEAM
IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE TEAM COMPETES IN THE NCAA'S DIVISION III
AGAINST HEARING TEAMS.
TOMORROW NIGHT IS SENIOR NIGHT, THE TEAM'S FINAL HOME GAME,
AND AN OCCASION TO HONOR GRADUATING SENIORS.
IT IS ALSO THEIR LAST SHOT AT MAKING THE PLAYOFFS.
I attended the Maryland School for the Deaf.
I was there for four years, then I came to Gallaudet.
This is my first year and I'm a freshman.
All my family is deaf.
My cousins, aunts and uncles are also deaf.
Lock it out. Okay, rack it. As you lift,
be aware of your arm angle.
And come up, yes. That's the way!
- Come on, guys. - Bring it in, circle up.
On three.
One, two, three!
Bisons!
If you've got your hands up,
stay aware and don't let them drive past you.
KEVIN KOVACS HEAD COACH
My name is Kevin Kovacs.
I'm here as the Head Coach
for the men's basketball team at Gallaudet University.
I happen to be hard of hearing
so I do have some hearing and I can speak a little bit.
And sometimes I'll use that as a mode of communication
between refs and visiting coaches.
But communication has always been superficial.
We have two seniors on this year's basketball team.
One is Cody Crace.
Another senior on the team is Jamal Garner.
He runs hard in practice.
And in the games, he gives everything.
He's definitely a player I've learned from a great deal.
You okay?
You must use your voice!
Will I hear you?
Pass it, pass it.
Jump shot. Jump, jump!
Use your legs.
Run the same play we did before.
Yes, I'll be watching you. Okay, let's go.
Some of the most common misconceptions
hearing people have about deaf people...
Often, they don't see deaf people as equal to them.
Oftentimes they run off
and don't think about the fact
that they are dealing with another human being.
It's the whole notion of focusing on what we can't do...
rather than what we can.
There was a time before a game when
an official told me, "You gotta stay in the coach's box.
"You can't be up and down the floor like that."
And I said, "Honestly,
"we have a lot of disadvantages during the game."
For example, my players can't hear
when someone is dribbling the ball.
Or when a defender is trying to swipe the ball from them.
Sometimes, you have players who are open
on the other end of the court
but you can't hear them or speak to them.
So, you miss out on those opportunities.
We got to take them in stride.
- Coaching out of box... - If coaches complain
about that small advantage,
I'd love to trade places one day.
3:52
That was fine. But next time,
think like if you're guarded,
if it looks like you're going to be guarded like that,
what do you do?
You feel bad yet, losing so much today?
Guarding you, I'm still thinking
about the upcoming game.
Like, when you see me, think of your opponent.
When you see them, think about playing me.
- You beat me. - Yeah, that's true.
- And you can beat them, too. - Sink it!
I think as a student athlete
you get really busy playing basketball
and I have to make sure that
I'm paying equal attention to my academics.
I like to think about why I'm here.
Now, some of you would rather do this, and some wouldn't,
but you know where to find the vocabulary list.
As it says on your work,
everyone partner up for about 15 minutes.
Anglais.
Anglais, this word.
Looks like we just figure out which to use?
Is it like this one?
Looks like we just figure out which to use?
If it's feminine it gets an -e.
Spanish, French, all the European languages have gender.
All of them have words based on masculine and feminine
with -o and -e endings.
No. Some of them look like you can identify that,
then you double-check, you realize that, no,
that's related to sounds.
You think it matches up with that, but really it doesn't.
Are gestures a language?
GSL gesture sign language?
CSL, sure. Oh yes, there's CSL.
CSL?
CSL is... Caveman Sign Language.
CSL! Ha, wow! CSL, that's great!
Caveman Sign Language! Cool.
CSL, CSL. Look, C-S-L.
It's for Caveman Sign Language.
Miss you.
Hey now, that's a pretty girl.
Jamal is a four-year veteran.
He has totaled 256 points, 299 rebounds.
What does it mean to be on this team?
We learn so much from each other
and I think that's one of the things I appreciate most,
how we learn from each other and become friends.
-Let's go, Bailey! -Box! Box!
You got that!
53.2 BISON 32 LBC 24 - PERIOD 1
The fans here? Sometimes they are just crazy.
They scream and yell to beat the band
and we need that, you know?
That's how we feel support.
49.5 BISON 71 LBC 69 - PERIOD 2
Yeah? Jump!
If he wants to come down here...Yeah, let's go.
I want to thank my mom so much.
She's worked so hard for me, my whole life.
She's so important to me.
Yeah, yeah! Bisons!
Today, we were way up, by 20.
And we almost dropped it
but we just barely won.
If you look to learn anything
from those three straight games,
it's that anything can happen.
If we're way up, or way down, still play hot.
Show your spirit.
That's why it's so important to never hang your head,
never give up.
Once again, in the water
swim the away team, orange caps.
Female, 35 to 39, and all Athena...
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six...
I like to pick huge goals that I could fail at.
That is what makes a goal interesting
that, like, it's possible that I can't do this.
It's also possible that I can succeed.
IN 2017, RAGEN CHASTAIN BECAME THE HEAVIEST WOMAN
TO EVER COMPLETE A MARATHON.
SHE IS CURRENTLY TRAINING TO COMPETE
AT AN IRONMAN TRIATHLON HAPPENING
AT THE END OF HER SEASON.
As an athlete,
I had never really seen, like, what is it like for me...
to try something that I'm not good at.
What is it like to lose, and to, you know,
not have a chance at being the best at something.
In the back of my head, I started
to have this question like, "Well, could I do that?"
My personality, once I asked the question,
kinda wanted an answer to it.
Like, most people were like, "Let's start with the 5K
and see if you like it, and then maybe do
a 10K and a half."
I just went straight to marathon.
SAN DIEGO SPRING SPRINT TRIATHLON
KOZ EVENTS 5:45 AM
-Have a fun day. -Okay.
-See you at the finish line! -Okay.
I'm in San Diego to run the Spring Sprint.
It's the shortest race of my season.
It's the first race of my season.
And the goal is to just to get comfortable,
kinda kick things off.
You wanna look around and see where the big banners are
for swim in, bike out, bike in, and run out,
if you can see that. Those are all on the north...
Triathlon is a lot about discomfort.
So, like, it's not fun to bike in a soaking-wet outfit
that just came out of the ocean.
But you're much faster,
than if you try to change your clothes.
It's not fun to pedal with sandy feet,
but you're much faster if you don't take the time.
So it's an interesting balance
of how uncomfortable do I wanna be,
versus how fast do I wanna be.
My dad was a cattle rancher,
and I grew up on working cattle ranches.
As a kid, I was kind of a chunky kid,
but also really body-confident, and an athlete.
I played soccer, I played volleyball,
I was a cheerleader, and a cheer-leading captain.
I also did anything that had a stage and a spotlight.
And I always loved dancing.
But I think partially because I was an athlete,
I got less body-shaming and teasing.
I one hundred percent bought into the idea
that a thinner body is a better body,
a healthier body, a body that I wanted to achieve.
I tried as hard as I could to become thin,
because I really believed that would make me better.
It was incredibly unhealthy, both physically and mentally.
But I've never been more praised
for my healthy regimen,
then when I was at the worst part of my eating disorder.
Ten, nine, eight, seven, six...
...orange caps, female, 35 to 39 and all Athena
on deck should be lane 11...
-You feeling okay? -Yeah, how about you?
-I'm nervous. -Yeah.
I haven't raced in two-and-a-half years.
-Yeah. -Like, semi-retirement.
I am glacially slow.
I am dead last, and I totally own dead last.
I don't care what people think about my size or my time.
I'm there, I'm working within the race rules.
This is the goal I have,
and I'm gonna accomplish it. Like, I'm just out there.
And, you know, I wanna do it, and so I'm doing it.
My motto is, "Show up fat, and refuse to leave."
Three, two, one, go!
Fat people haven't always felt welcome,
and aren't always welcome from everyone in these sports,
so visibility is really important to me.
And I kind of can't help myself but be an activist
if I get involved in something.
-Good job! -Thanks, you too.
It was a rough swim, but I made it through.
Third of the way done with this mess. On to the bike.
Bike, now. That way.
-You go, girl. -Thanks, you too.
In college, I did a lot of social justice work.
Even back to high school, I did a lot of anti-racism work,
I did a lot of queer and trans activism.
But I never thought about fat people
as a group of people who are oppressed.
And then, as I went into my 30s,
is when I sort of turned the corner,
and discovered Health at Every Size.
And that's really what made me a fat activist.
Originally, I was just gonna blog
about my experiences as a fat ballroom dancer.
And then I started to blog more about just social justice
in general and Health at Every Size.
From that blog,
I started to get invitations to speak.
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO
ATKINSON HALL
-Hello. -Hi!
I'm getting hugs on the way.
-Good to see you. -Good to see you, too.
-Your hair's adorable. -Thank you.
It is my great, great, honor
to welcome Ragen Chastain here today.
She's actually, like, my all-time fat activist hero.
Learning about Health at Every Size,
and size acceptance, and learning the truth
about weight and health
really changed my outlook for the better.
Health at Every Size says that "Understanding
that health is not an obligation,
a barometer of worthiness, entirely within our control,
or guaranteed under any circumstances,
everyone should have access to the things that they want
for their own prioritization of their health,
and the path they choose to get there."
Health at Every Size takes everything into account
and focuses on actual health,
rather than a focus on body size.
Size acceptance is not up for debate, you either agree
with size acceptance, or you're wrong.
Those are the only two options that exist.
Size acceptance is kind of a greater movement
that focuses on making sure
that fat people have the same experiences
and opportunities, and access that thin people do.
And this touches on a lot of areas of life.
Fashion is one of them. Airlines.
There are hospitals and medical centers
with beds that won't fit us.
There's this huge issue with just access and equality
that really needs to be addressed.
Every body should be welcome.
I sort of have the personality
to be able to deal with the crap
that comes along with,
you know, being a fat person who's highly visible,
and loving themselves, and achieving their goals.
I have been trolled daily since 2012,
there hasn't been a day go by.
The first trolling message I ever got,
was just an email that said, "Fatties gonna fat."
My personality is that that's never gonna stop me.
So now I just have to walk three miles,
and I can be done, and go eat pancakes.
RUN OUT
In terms of fat activism, visibility is a major thing.
So my motto is, "Cross finish line,
get medal."
-You, too. -Yeah.
Come on, give me some!
-Come on. -Go, kill it.
It's always hard for me,
because I don't like to be at the back
and you're the one who's, like, being congratulated.
Awesome job, y'all.
So, that's hard, to be honest.
Ever since the very beginning of the run
for some reason, this side of my back is, like...
super tight.
And it just really hurts with every step, so...
I really can't do it anymore, that's a... kinda rough day.
I get about ten thousand emails every month.
What they're saying is, like, "I saw myself in that.
I heard what you said and I, you know, I felt that.
And I've experienced that, and I'm not the only one,
and I'm not alone." That's a huge part
of what's important, and why it's important,
that fat people have visibility
within athletics, and everywhere.
Instead of just waiting around for thin bodies to show up,
I decided to take my fat body out for a spin,
and see what it could do, and it turns out
it could do a lot of, kind of, cool, fun things.
Crossed finish line, got a medal.
I did that and I didn't quit. This is about me, you know,
mentally making myself stay on the course.
Have that mental challenge, and overcoming.
That's what that medal means,
it's like, I did that, I finished that.
One of the most important memories
that I will never forget
was when one of my friends told me
to stick to something you could do.
That remark was the spark that generated inside of me...
the will and determination.
I wanted to prove to him that I could practice a sport
But I never imagined I would be a world table tennis champion.
KAFR SAAD EL-BALAD DAMIETTA, EGYPT
My name is Ibrahim Hamadtou. I play table tennis
for the Egyptian national team.
I’m from Egypt, from Damietta.
From the village of Kafr Saad El-Balad.
I learned table tennis here in the local youth center.
All my friends are from here, too.
Get rid of the cigarette, Ahmed.
You can't smoke around an athlete.
And I'm still very close to my family.
This village means a lot to me, as it's where I grew up
and where I was born, and God willing,
I will die here, too.
I was working as a carpenter in Damietta.
So, I would take the train to Damietta every morning
and come back in the evening. But on that day...
I got on the train, and on the second stop,
right after this stop, in my village...
I was standing by the door...
and I fell in the gap between the train and the pavement.
When I woke up from the coma,
I found that both my arms were amputated.
After I got discharged from the hospital
I didn't leave the house for a whole year,
except for very late at night.
I didn't like to see the looks of pity
and sympathy on people's faces.
That first year was really difficult for me.
I didn't play any sports before the accident.
After the accident, I tried to play soccer
and I used to run around with my friends,
but I frequently got injured, because I had no balance.
But when I visited the youth center...
table tennis caught my eye.
The first thing I tried was to hold the paddle
under my armpits, but I failed.
I tried this once, then twice and then the third time
I placed the paddle in my mouth...
and I held the paddle
between my teeth for a few moments.
And then I thought, "Why don't I try playing with my mouth?"
The next day I was at the youth center at 7:00 a.m.
And that's where it all began.
I've been playing table tennis since 1986,
but I started playing at world stage in 2015.
I got a personal invitation
to play an exhibition match with world champions.
He played very good. I could not believe.
And that video kick-started Ibrahim's career.
I was the most famous table tennis player
because of that video posted on the ITTF's website.
AFTER GOING VIRAL, IBRAHIM PLACED SECOND
AT THE AFRICAN PARA CHAMPIONSHIPS,
QUALIFYING HIM FOR THE RIO 2016 PARALYMPIC GAMES.
PARALYMPIC GAMES RIO 2016
When people see me holding the paddle and moving around
sometimes, they try to imitate me, thinking that it's easy.
It's not easy at all.
Everything in my body moves with me.
I need to strengthen my legs constantly,
because I rely on my legs more than any other player.
My neck also needs to be strengthened constantly.
The same goes for my teeth.
The paddle should not move at all between my teeth,
because if it does then I lose everything.
Oh, it's gone wide and that's that.
A moment of prayer and reflection
for Ibrahim Hamadtou.
You know, giving thanks for the journey he's had.
His singles journey is over
but what an inspiration he's been.
I can spend an entire day practicing the serve
so that I can perfect it.
I have to win points as quickly as possible
before it wears me out.
It's extremely difficult, but,
because we love the game, we try to stick to it.
PARA EGYPT OPEN 2019 ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
Come on, Hima. Receive a ball and strike it.
Receive it and strike it back.
Coach, we're playing one-on-one.
One here, one there.
Go ahead. Good.
Yes, that's it. Great.
Good job.
Nice going.
The paddle needs a wipe.
After Egypt's international competition,
there's the African championship,
the qualifier for Tokyo 2020.
God willing, I'll earn a gold medal and qualify for Tokyo.
I keep telling myself, "Tokyo is the goal."
During these tournaments,
there's love and camaraderie between most players.
It's an honorable competition
when we're at the table, but outside the winner
and loser walk out as brothers and friends.
The ambience is beautiful in any international championship.
Maybe the ball will bounce back.
He can't serve and strike after.
Your ball's difficult.
Okay, when I strike...
if it's too difficult, I don't strike it.
When I’m standing at the table,
I probably forget everything.
I feel that I'm having a conversation with the ball
and it listens to what I say.
I really feel like a king when I'm at the table.
It will be a miracle for Ibrahim Hamadtou
to qualify for two Olympic championships
in a row,
and this can be a good end to my sports career.
May God help me make this country proud.
WHILE COMPETING IN THE AFRICAN PARA CHAMPIONSHIPS,
IBRAHIM SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY THAT PREVENTED HIM
FROM COMPLETING HIS MATCHES.
AS A RESULT, HE WAS FORCED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COMPETITION.
IBRAHIM HOPES HE WILL BE GRANTED A WILD CARD SLOT
TO ENTER THE TOKYO 2020 PARALYMPIC GAMES.
I think a lot of people think once they're, maybe, 65, or so,
they should slow down a little bit.
It depends on each individual.
Not everyone can be doing what I'm doing at 85.
UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO
-What happened? -You'll have to measure,
but I think it's in the US records.
I think, when you keep your body and your mind active,
you'll look at the world in a different way.
ALBUQUERQUE NEW MEXICO
WELCOME 2019 NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES
My name is Flo Filion Meiler,
and we are at the National Senior Games
in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
This past year or so,
because I'm getting more injuries,
I try to do longer stretching.
The older you get,
the more stretching exercise you should do.
And that's what I've been doing.
But I can't believe I'm 85. I really can't.
Go through 115...
We'd like to welcome you to the 2019
National Senior Games in Albuquerque.
THE NATIONAL SENIOR GAMES ATTRACT THOUSANDS
OF PARTICIPANTS FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.
ALL ATHLETES ARE 50+
I'm doing the 50 meters, the 100 meters,
the high jump, the long jump, the triple jump,
the discus, the javelin... and the pole vault.
I think I mentioned them all.
Not too many people do that many.
But if you're asking me about my favorite,
it's the pole.
Yeah, feels like I'm soaring.
It's hard to explain.
I think, sport-wise,
I'm very happy being involved in the National Senior Games.
Because when I see the lady, 97 years old, in the javelin,
and she's using her cane to get to the throwing area...
I mean, I get goosebumps when I see that.
Good throw, Annie! Good job. Good one.
Really. That is so beautiful. That is so beautiful.
I have a lot of people come up to me and say,
"You're such an inspiration,
I wanna do some of the things you do."
So it's really fun to get these people
to come and talk to you that way.
I always tell them, "Please find a friend
an athletic partner to go walking with
so you have someone to talk to."
Good job!
I miss my training partner, Barbara Jordan, so much.
She cannot compete anymore.
It's been five years now,
and we trained together for over 20 years.
This is Flo and this is Barb.
She was the one that recruited me
twenty-five years ago.
And I was doing tennis with my husband,
and I looked at her very strangely,
and I said, "I've never done track."
But she insisted that I come and try the long jump.
And that started my track and field career.
COME TO POLE VAULTING PRACTICE
Then I got myself a video.
-There we go. -What do you have?
You got a relay, right?
"Come to Practice Pole Vaulting
Featuring Bill Falk and Mark Strawderman."
So the first year, I really taught myself
with a video.
But I think if I didn't have Barbara as a role model,
I wouldn't be so energetic about doing well.
Training together was fantastic,
because we would challenge each other,
and we would criticize each other.
Five years ago, she was diagnosed
with breast cancer.
It's really a struggle for me to train by myself.
It is a real struggle, but I have determination
and I put Barb into my mind, and I thought,
"I've got to do this for Barb.
And I've got to do it for the state of Vermont."
Are you ready?
She had it!
Jill is the other one who is from Vermont.
It's because of me that she's doing pole vault.
She saw me doing it.
So we've been practicing together
a few times.
I signed up for this mainly because I'm a friend of Flo's.
She doesn't see a boundary and stay inside of it.
That boundary, it's like the bar to doing pole vaulting.
It's like, "That's what I need to get over."
Yes, Jill! You did it!
In the pole vault, your timing has to be exact,
or you're not gonna be poling in the right direction.
I broke a record, and I did three feet five.
I'm going to try and go higher, yeah.
Try, because I've done higher,
quite a bit higher before. But, you know,
when you're under tension, sometimes
you cannot accomplish what you wanna do.
Okay, gals!
Cheer me on!
All right!
When you're out there on the track...
you're tense because you've gotta be ready.
I think to myself before I go, "Jump higher, jump higher."
Then I'll count, and I'll say, "Three, two, one, jump."
Nope.
I don't think I'm gonna go any higher.
-Oh, come on! -You got this.
-I can't do it. -Yeah, you will, you will.
...South Burlington High School.
-Count your steps, you can. -If I wasn't so tired.
-Golly! -See what you can find.
-I should be able to do that. -You can do it.
Let's go.
TRACK & FIELD #REALSENIORMOMENTS
You go over that pole,
and if I did it, I'll say, "Yay, I did it!"
It's a wonderful feeling.
Jill told me that I could do it.
She said, "Think about what we do
at South Burlington High School when we train together."
So she really helped me. Motivated me.
I'm 67,
so I had no girls' sports when I was growing up.
And it wasn't until fairly recently,
that I really started getting some training,
with a trainer, and...
the horizons just got so much broader.
And one of the things that he said to me,
fairly early on after I started, was,
"You're an athlete."
And that's always been true,
but I've just never really understood that.
To have a role model, and to have mentors
is so valuable.
And certainly, Flo and I, the role model
of how you were to be as a woman,
it didn't involve being strong,
and challenge yourself, and being the best you could...
Meiler, right there.
Florence Meiler! Go!
...did not involve this.
And for the female 85 to 89 gold medalist, we have
Flo Meiler.
There you go.
I feel funny.
1341 SENIOR GAMES F. MEILER
In life... I've learned to accept defeat,
accept a challenge. And I think that's a wonderful...
happening in my life.
Goodbye, Albuquerque! It was fun!
My favorite motto I use
when I do an inspirational talk to some of the seniors,
my title is, "Never too late."