Disabled Bodies, Abled Beings

For many people, exercise is seen as a chore or a burden. For others, having a physically abled body is but a dream. For the extraordinary, not having a physically abled body was simply a hurdle that would soon be overcome.

Let’s take a look at some of the physically disabled bodies who, despite their disability, rose above their circumstances and proved to the world that they are able!

Aimee Walker Pond, is one of the exceptionally exceptional cases. Not only has Aimee competed and won medals as an International Elite gymnast, at the tender age of 14, she starred in a movie called ‘Little Girls in Pretty Boxes’.

If that’s not impressive enough on its own, Aimee is also completely deaf and blind in her right eye, as a result of coloboma, a disease caused by a hole in one of the central parts of the eye. When Aimee was 9-months old, doctors believed that Aimee would never be able to learn sign language as Aimee’s brain could not connect images with ideas. Not only did Aimee prove her doctors wrong, she also inspires aspiring gymnasts and people worldwide with a book based on her life: No Excuses The Story of Elite Gymnast Aimee Walker-Pond written by Adam U. Kempler. Aimee’s story is evidence that there are no excuses for not following our dreams!

Jennifer Bricker was born with her heart on the opposite side of her chest, and without legs. On the day that she was born, Jen’s parents gave her up for adoption in Romania, as they were uncertain about how they were going to care for a child with two birth defects. Jen was then adopted into a loving home, who encouraged her to never say “can’t”. Jennifer enjoyed watching gymnastics, and tumbled on the trampoline with her dad. She was then enrolled in tumbling, where she won state titles and competed in the Junior Olympics.

Iona Hay had her leg amputated at the age of 5 due to bone cancer. She was one of the first children to be fitted with a blade-style prosthesis after the amputation. Iona’s family has supported her from the very beginning, and they believe that gymnastics has helped her physical well-being. By building a strong core, Iona is able to walk. Iona trains with her friend, Sophie Crawford at the City of Glasgow Gymnastics Club which hosts one of the largest competitive disability gymnastics groups in the country. Sophie, 3 years Iona’s senior, was born without a hand, but continued to pursue her dreams to be a gymnast. In Iona’s first British Championship, she won an all-around silver in the level B (development level) competition, at the age of 11.

Sophie Crawford, friend of Iona. Sophie participated in the 2014 disability national squad and was named the British junior champion of that same year. According to Sophie’s lead coach for disability gymnastics at the City of Glasgow Gymnastics club, Sophie is naturally talented and has found ways of adapting to the challenges that her disability presents in the world of gymnastics.
All of these gymnasts are inspiring in their own right, and if we could learn one thing from all of them, it would be that with the right attitude nothing can stand in your way!