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AUSTIN, Texas – While many of the top athletes in the world attended the Tokyo Olympics this summer, another group representing the United States is training for their ultimate competition to be held next year. The US Deaf Track and Field Team was recently in Austin for a week of training.
What you need to know
- The U.S. deaf athletics team recently trained in Austin ahead of the 2022 Deaflympics in Caxias do Sul, Brazil
- Team, whose athletes are elite, won medals at the Deaflympics 2017
- Unlike other athletes, they have to raise their own resources to compete and are not paid to win medals
- A donation page was set up for the athletes to help raise the estimated $ 4,500 for travel and expenses
“I consider this group to be absolutely elitist,” said Dave Frank, head-track trainer. “They all share the same goal: to represent the United States as a country and not as a team of individuals, to represent the Deaf community in the United States, and that is something they are very proud of.”
It’s a team with lots of returning talent like Taylor Koss, who won two bronze medals at the Deaflympics in 2017.
“I’m proud of myself, I’ve worked incredibly hard for four years to get this medal,” said Koss. “I am very lucky to be part of this team.”
The group also includes some young talent, like 16-year-old Austin Jarvis Anderson.
“I feel like this is completely different compared to deaf and deaf tracks, but I like it,” said Anderson. “I’m so proud of the deaf culture everywhere, and I’m really proud to be here.”
With runners like Koss and Anderson, the US team has the chance to compete with some of the best countries in the world. Unlike in some countries, these athletes from the USA do not receive any funding for participation in the Deaflympics. They need to raise funds to pay for their entire trip to Brazil over the next year to enter the competitions.
“We have the skills and opportunities to win medals, but the downside is fundraising,” said Koss. “We feel like we’ve lost our dreams at times and it’s heartbreaking.”
“If you can’t get the amount you need to raise, you’ll have to stay home,” said Larry Smith, the team’s relay coach.
Team officials estimate that these athletes will need to raise at least $ 4,500 to cover travel and expenses while competing in Brazil. Most rely on family and friends to cover the costs. They also run fundraising drives and a page has been set up where anyone can donate.
“I prefer the athletes to focus on improving their athleticism rather than having to focus on fundraisers,” said Frank. “That is definitely a huge challenge that we have to face.”
Another difference from the Olympics and Deaflympics is that these athletes do not receive any compensation for winning medals. On the other hand, an American athlete gets $ 37,500 for winning a gold medal in the Olympics.
“We win, we work hard, we get our medals and all we get is a pat on the back,” said Smith. “They are a real team, we don’t really see the money as a motivation for what we do in our sport.”
The Deaflympics 2022 will take place next May in Caxias do Sul, Brazil.
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