paralympic journey | akatsmedia

Taylor Talbot's journey to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics

Taylor Talbot began losing her sight at 2 years old and was legally blind by 8 from a rare degenerative eye disease called retinitis pigmentosa. Now 20 years old, she has lost all sight in her right eye and only has ~5% tunnel vision in her left. And yet her sight has hardly hindered her passions in life nor her determination as an athlete. In 2021, she qualified for the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, only to have her qualification revoked after a miscalculation. She fought hard for her spot to stay on Team USA and through her athletic grit, emotional perseverance and family support, Talbot ended up competing alongside her teammates in Tokyo in the 100- and 400-meter dashes after a grueling training season.

Talbot uses her cane as her youngest brother, Tyson (9) watches. She has been using it since her freshman year of high school, even though she needed it when she was younger. “I was really insecure at first because I didn’t want people to see me as just a blind girl,” Talbot said. “I’m so much more than that, but the cane is the only thing you see at first.”

Talbot listens to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics cross country games in the days leading up to her own journey to Tokyo as a source of motivation. It had been Talbot’s dream of competing in the Olympics since she started running at 4 years old and had full sight. As her vision worsened, her passion for running only continued to grow.

After originally qualifying at the Paralympic Trials in Minneapolis, Talbot's acceptance was revoked due to a 0.01% miscalculation. “Just as the reality of being a Paralympian was sinking in, it was gone,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do with myself; my whole life had been building to this moment that was suddenly taken away.”

Talbot trains in her parents' basement after her qualification had been revoked because she didn't want the news to affect her determination and growth. She said, "The next morning, I got up and ran eight miles. There was no way I was going to stop training. But it was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do in my life.”

Days of training later, Talbot received another call. The Committee had agreed to let her back onto the team. Talbot’s training increased tenfold, and she was out at the track before sunrise every morning. “I’m a Paralympian. Again,” Talbot said.

When she’s running, Talbot says she doesn’t feel blind. She just feels fast. “I can’t even see the lines, I can only hear and feel things like the wind on my face and the loud cheers of the crowd.

Off the track, Talbot plays piano and ukulele and even writes her own songs. “My coach always says running is like classical music. You can’t think too hard,” Talbot said. “I always kind of laughed at him, but I think I get it now. It’s about feeling.”

Her family has been a driving force in helping her reach her goals and adapt to her visual impairment over the years. On their front porch in Nyssa, Oregon, Talbot strums her ukulele, which she plans to take with her to Tokyo, for her three younger siblings and newborn kitten. As the oldest of four, she takes pride in upholding her responsibility to look after her brothers and sister, just as they look after her.

Talbot’s brother Ryan (17) messes with Taylor’s hair as she tries to workshop a new song she’s in the process of writing. “Just because she’s different and all famous doesn’t mean we’re not still her annoying little siblings!” Ryan joked.

Taylor’s mom, Stacie Talbot dissects for Taylor the video she just filmed of her practice sprint, explaining errors and places to improve in her form. Stacie used to be a professional runner, so in lieu of an in-person coach due to COVID-19, she adopted this role and acts as Taylor’s eyes.

After a grueling training season, Talbot left for Tokyo on Aug. 10, 2021 to compete in the T-13 class for visual impairment in the 100- meter and 400-meter dashes. After two years of solo training in lockdown, she looks forward to being around other athletes. “The Paralympics is all about overcoming your challenges. Every single one of us have these physical challenges and we all overcome it through our sport. It’s pretty incredible.”

angelina katsanis

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