Crew USA received silver within the para badminton blended doubles occasion within the SH6 classification for athletes of quick stature.
PARIS, France — Crew USA’s first two para badminton gamers are leaving Paris with a pair extra items of Paralympic historical past round their necks.
Miles Krajewski and Jayci Simon received silver medals within the blended doubles SH6 classification for athletes with quick stature on Monday. The 2 19-year-olds misplaced the gold medal match to a extra skilled duo from China — Lin Naili (32) and Li Fengmei (31) — at Porte de la Chapelle Enviornment in northern Paris.
Gold was the final word objective for Krajewski and Simon, however they mentioned they had been elated by the ultimate consequence. In spite of everything, Krajewski and Simon certified for the Paralympics by grabbing the ultimate out there spot again in April.
“We knew that we had been the underdogs, and our objective was simply to get out of group,” Simon mentioned. “That was our first objective, after which to get to the gold medal match, so we achieved each of these.”
A medal was the additional reward, one they had been hungry to take as soon as they arrived in Paris.
“I feel that no dream is ever too massive, so why not dream massive?” Simon mentioned earlier than her first blended doubles match. “It will actually assist develop the game within the U.S. as a result of we might have one thing to again us up, and I feel that it could create extra funding and extra alternatives.”
Simon herself is a product of another person’s need to develop the game. She had by no means heard of badminton earlier than assembly Krajewski’s father, Mike, at a Little Individuals of America sports activities camp in 2016. Mike was impressed along with her athleticism and really useful Simon attempt para badminton.
Drawing the American public’s consideration to para badminton is a objective for Mike Krajewski, however he has one other key demographic in thoughts, as properly: future Paralympians. The elder Krajewski says he helped recruit each quick stature member of U.S. para badminton and a few members of Canada’s staff, too.
“We’ve received to construct on that momentum and … clarify to them there’s different paths,” he mentioned. “I feel that’s what we have to do is present the alternatives, present the camps.”
Like Simon, many younger American athletes with impairments select to compete in adaptive sports activities extra in style than para badminton, like wheelchair basketball, para athletics and wheelchair tennis.
Miles says he’s seeing extra badminton academies seem within the U.S. together with a rise in para badminton gamers in worldwide tournaments, however expects rather more within the close to future.
“Hopefully it can develop a minimum of 5 occasions as massive,” Krajewski mentioned final Tuesday, considering how a medal may have an effect on U.S. para badminton. “Simply begin slowly (and) proceed to develop.”
Krajewski and Simon plan to have an extended profession of trailblazing forward of them, however will take a break from the game first. Simon will begin her sophomore yr at Lansing Neighborhood Faculty whereas working part-time as an optometrist, and Miles will start his freshman yr on the College of South Dakota.
What about rapid plans?
“Have fun first,” Simon mentioned.
“Effectively, I’ve received to get drug examined now,” Krajewski mentioned. “Then rejoice.”
