The Paralympics are less than 2 months away, and qualification events all but wrapped up. The focus is now on the individual competitors. These athletes have dedicated years of their lives for the chance to represent their countries in Paris. They know they have a real shot at Paralympic glory. These individuals have proved that they are amongst the best in the world at what they do. Now, over the course of the 11 days of competition, they could prove they are the best in the world.
For many years now, Active Hands has had a proud tradition of supplying equipment to Paralympians across the globe. Paris will be no different. We thought it important to shine a spotlight on these individuals and so recently caught up with a few of them to see how their preparations were going and what it felt like to be mere months away from The Main Event.
Harvey Phillips
Harvey is a British swimmer who had to have his legs and parts of his arms amputated after contracting meningitis as a baby. He has been breaking records in the pool since he was a child. After learning how to swim whilst on holiday with his dad, he was scouted at his local pool by an England talent coach when he was just 11 years old. Harvey immediately felt at home in a competitive environment. He made headlines in 2018 when, at age 13, he shattered the 50m butterfly British record by 11 seconds – a record which had stood for 22 years!
Fuelled by a constant drive to better each performance, he has repeatedly broken British records in butterfly, breaststroke and freestyle. Recently, he won gold in the British Championships 50m breaststroke, beating the current record holder by 0.2 of a second. It would seem logical that the next step for Harvey’s career would be competing on the biggest stage of them all – the Paralympics.
“When I compete I still really, really enjoy it, and for me it’s what fuels me to keep going and strive towards success, as every time I get in the pool I want to better my last performance.”
Dreaming of the Paralympics
Having dreamed of representing his country since 2019, Harvey narrowly missed out on Tokyo three years ago. In part, due to Covid restrictions cancelling vital qualifying events. There is no such problem this time however. It is looking almost certain that Harvey will be on that plane come August, a feeling that he admits is difficult to put into words.
Qualifying for the Paralympics does not come easily however, there is a staggering amount of commitment and training involved. An average week for Harvey consists of 8/9 sessions in the water, alongside at least 2/3 sessions in the gym. Due to his amputations, Harvey would normally struggle to access a lot of the gym equipment were it not for his General Purpose Gripping Aids. Thanks to these, Harvey is able to use the likes of cable machines and dumbbells with ease. This enables him to work on specific muscles outside of the pool that can then aid his performance inside of the pool!
“Without the Active Hands I simply wouldn’t be able to complete a session in the gym as I wouldn’t be able to grip the weights correctly.”
At only 19 years old, it seems that Harvey will be competing for gold later this year. It is clear this would mean the world to him. When asked what the first thing he would do would be, if he returned home as a gold medallist, he answered very simply: “I would go visit my family and my old swimming coach”.
Kieran Flynn
The only thing more invigorating than going into your first Paralympics, is going into your first Paralympics as part of a team who are the defending champions! That is the, simultaneously, enviable/unenviable position that Kieran finds himself in.
Kieran broke his neck playing able-bodied rugby in 2013. He took up wheelchair rugby in 2017, having been introduced to it by ex-Paralympian Tony Stackhouse. He proved himself a natural on court, appreciating both the physical and technical aspects of the game. Soon, Kieran was on the GB Talent pathway. After a few years of commitment and continued development, he was called up to the GB elite squad. He made his debut at the 2022 European Championships, winning the silver medal.
“The feeling to be selected to represent your country is something I will never forget. It was and still is such an exciting feeling but really is so hard to describe. Going on to win European silver was the disappointing part!”
Paralympic Training
Having solidified his position in the team, Kieran knows that the hard work doesn’t end there. Outside of GB training camps and watching his beloved Liverpool FC, each week he spends a gruelling 3-4 sessions in his rugby chair, 3-4 conditioning sessions on the hand bike, and 3 sessions at the gym. During these gym sessions, in order to maintain a firm grip on the weights and apparatus, Kieran uses his General Purpose Gripping Aids. They are vital in enabling him to lift heavier weights whilst carrying out a multitude of exercises. Kieran is always pushing himself further and harder, in order to be at his best on court.
“I use the Active Hands General Purpose Gripping Aids within my training sessions! The difference they make in gym sessions is incredible. Use them for things like tricep extensions, dumbbell bicep curls and shoulder press. They really help me when I increase the weight on things like benchpress to be able to grip the bar securely and safely. Without them, I could train nowhere near as effectively as I do.”
Since sensationally winning the gold 3 years ago, GB wheelchair rugby has been through a rebuilding phase. Kieran has proved himself to be a key part of that rebuild; recently winning best in class at the Canada Cup. He recognises the added pressure of being defending champions. Kieran believes this is something that the team will thrive upon. They still have plenty of work to do in the weeks leading up to Paris. However, the overriding emotion for Kieran at this moment is one of excitement. There is a real belief within the squad that, come the end of summer, they will be challenging to retain their crown.
“We are in a good place heading into Paris so hopefully that will be reflected within our performances. We want to win gold and it would mean the world to do that!”
Jillian Elwart
A para-kayaker turned para-canoeist who hails from Arkansas, USA; Jillian was born with a malformed right leg and a right hand consisting of a thumb and 2 fingers. As someone who has already featured in a number of Active Hands articles over the years, her appearance at the Paralympics this summer will be the culmination of a near decade long journey.
After switching from kayak to canoe in 2022, Jillian quickly got herself classified to compete internationally in WVL3. This is the women’s para version of the kneeling canoe. She then went to the 2023 World Championships in Germany where she secured the USA a spot at the Paralympics. However this spot was for her country rather than herself, so in March this year she raced for a place on Team USA; winning the event and cementing her spot in Paris.
“It’s an amazing feeling to be representing the USA on the biggest world stage. I’ve been training for this for 9 years and it is solidification that hard work and consistency pay off.”
Work work work…
The hard work that Jillian consistently puts in comprises of weekday daily gym sessions and weekend daily double sessions in the water. She regularly travels the 1000+ miles to New York in order to train with her coach. This will be especially important in the week leading up to the Games. On top of all the training, Jillian somehow also finds the time to work her job as a paediatric prosthetist!
Originally when kayaking, Jillian would use her General Purpose Gripping Aid to maintain a firm grip on the double-bladed paddle. In the canoe with a single-bladed paddle, she has been able to go without her aid in the water. She almost has no need for grip on the new paddle. It is a different story at the gym however, and Jillian uses her gripping aid every session in order to get a balanced workout. This training gives her the strength and power needed to cut through the water.
“I do use my gripping aid with every gym session. I’m able to use the same weight in my compromised hand as in my sound hand. It keeps me symmetrical in strength and appearance. Every row, lat pull, pull up, curl, all are performed with my gripping aid. I am so reliant on it, that when I travel I always put it in carry-on in the event my luggage does not make it to my destination.”
European Adventures Await…
Jillian has a solid support team, both professionally and personally, following her to Paris. Her coach, licensed massage therapist, daughter, and best friend are all accompanying her. Meanwhile, countless more cheer her on from back home! As far as the possibility of medalling goes, Jillian isn’t allowing herself to get carried away. She knows that competing at the Paralympics is a huge achievement in itself. However, she is training for a podium finish and is on course to achieve a personal best time. So it is without doubt a dream that can be realised.
Whatever happens, Jillian has plenty to look forward to after the Games and is in no rush to head home. She plans to spend a couple of weeks travelling Europe with her daughter, who has never left the America’s before. Hopefully there will be enough room in her luggage for her Active Hands and a medal!
“Thank you for creating such a great device. It has impacted my life and I honestly do not know what I would do without it.”
So there we have it – a plethora of Paralympic potential! Of course, no one is guaranteed a medal. That’s all part of the excitement! What is guaranteed however, is that each athlete will be cheered on by thousands of people. They will have the support of those in attendance at the stadiums and millions more watching at home. And when the Parisian dust settles, some, if not all, of the names mentioned above could be etched into sporting immortality. Now that really would be a bon jour!
Gareth Herridge