Paralympian

Definition

(Noun) The term Paralympian refers to an athlete who has participated in the Paralympic Games. The Paralympic Games are often confused with the Special Olympics. However, a Paralympian is an athlete with a physical disability not a mental disability.

Paralympians compete and train at a high level. Even though the numbers of participants in Paralympic sports is often less than their able-bodied counterparts, the competitiveness and drive of a Paralympian is second to none. Some of the most popular Paralympic sports include Athletics, Wheelchair Basketball, and Wheelchair Rugby.

Paralympians meet every four years to compete and decide who the best in the world is. The Paralympic Games are held two weeks after the conclusion of the Olympic Games, and are held in the same location using the same venues.

Paralympians include athletes with a wide variety of disabilities, including: amputation, spinal cord injuries, visual impairment and cerebral palsy.