{"id":8692,"date":"2024-08-30T22:08:48","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T22:08:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/setupjunkie.net\/?p=8692"},"modified":"2024-09-02T16:10:08","modified_gmt":"2024-09-02T16:10:08","slug":"brutality-tactics-and-15k-gear-path-to-paris-paralympics-qa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/setupjunkie.net\/index.php\/2024\/08\/30\/brutality-tactics-and-15k-gear-path-to-paris-paralympics-qa\/","title":{"rendered":"Brutality, Tactics, and $15K Gear: Path to Paris Paralympics Q&A"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Emi<\/p>\n

Every Olympic athlete must overcome barriers just to reach the starting line. <\/strong>But Paralympic athletes face a few extra obstacles on their way to the world’s biggest competition. <\/p>\n

Just to compete at the highest level, these athletes must obtain expensive, specialized equipment. That’s true for all athletes, of course, but there’s a difference of degree. When we review “super sneakers” here at GearJunkie, like the adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultra<\/a>, we acknowledge that not everyone can afford $220 just for a pair of top-notch running shoes. <\/p>\n

But what if you needed to spend $10,000-15,000 just to keep up with your competitors? That’s the situation faced by many Paralympic athletes.<\/p>\n

It’s also where organizations like the Kelly Brush Foundation<\/a> come in. They provide funding for athletes to buy the gear they need to return to the competitive spirit that defined them before a life-changing injury. <\/p>\n

We caught up with two such athletes as they prepared to head to Paris. Both of them will compete this weekend, so read on to learn more about their sports \u2014 and when to watch them. <\/p>\n

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A post shared by Emi Perry (@ppp_emi)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

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Emi Perry: Paralympic Triathlon<\/h2>\n

Watch Perry compete in the Paralympic triathlon on Monday, September 2. Find the full schedule on the Olympics website.<\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n

GJ: You finished your first paratriathlon in 2022. Two years later, you\u2019re heading to the Olympics. What has your journey been to get here?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Perry:<\/strong> I started doing wheelchair racing right after my injury 7 years ago. The bike was the only part I hadn\u2019t done before joining triathlon.\u00a0Swimming feels like the tough part, though. I feel like I struggle the most with the swim.\u00a0Since I moved to Colorado last year in March, it\u2019s been a lot of working on the strokes and technique … I\u2019m definitely excited to go to Paris \u2018cause I\u2019ve never been there. A lot of my teammates have gone to the games and won medals. When I take a step back and think about it, I realize it\u2019s a big deal.\u00a0<\/p>\n

GJ: What\u2019s the specialized equipment you needed to compete? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Perry:<\/strong> I had been using a top-end RX [for the biking portion of the triathlon], which is a nice bike. But it\u2019s not a competition bike. Triathlon athletes use carbon handcycles, and for a new one, it can cost $15,000. I was able to find a used one for $9,000, and the Kelly Brush Foundation gave me $7,500 to help buy it. I feel like if I didn\u2019t have that bike, I wouldn\u2019t be able to compete at this level.<\/p>\n

GJ: What piece of gear helps you the most from day to day?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Perry: <\/strong>I’ve been trying to be better about nutrition. I really like drinking Skratch Labs<\/a> when I’m training. <\/p>\n

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