DREAM
BELIEVE
ACHIEVE
FOLLOWING THE 2012 PARALYMPIC GAMES, U.S. PARALYMPICS SET OUT TO RECRUIT MORE ATHLETES INTO ITS RANKS. USOPC TARGETED THREE LARGE STATES, WHICH ALREADY HAD WELL-ESTABLISHED HIGH SCHOOLS SPORTS PROGRAMS. IN 2015, CALIFORNIA BECAME THE 25TH STATE TO ADOPT RULES ALLOWING DISABLED HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE AND EARN POINTS FOR THEIR TEAM. WE FOLLOWED FOUR STUDENT ATHLETES INTO THE HIGH-STAKES WORLD OF INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMPETITION.
Their journey is a roller coaster ride of injuries, rule changes and unforeseen circumstances as they attempt to make the U.S. Paralympic Track & Field team. Two cross country runners switch to sprinting, a wheelchair basketball player becomes a wheelchair track racer and a thrower’s classification is eliminated. At each location, we found new angles to shoot from. The racing footage includes many of today’s top Paralympians competing during three seasons. Filmed on location in Arizona, California and Nottwil, Switzerland.