The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games are just around the corner, serving as a powerful reminder of the incredible potential within our diverse society. Throughout history, sports have always united us, and each achievement, each step forward, and every victory resonates deeply within our communities, sending a strong message of unity and strength.
The Paralympic Games create a fair competitive environment for athletes of varying abilities from across the world. It’s inspiring to see that among these athletes are Paralympians who use prosthetic technology, showing how technology can support participation in sports. This diversity not only showcases advancements in assistive devices that empower athletes but also remind us about the importance of accessibility and equality in every aspect of life.
A remarkable example of how technology can support human potential, especially in the lives of amputees is German para sprinter Johannes Floors, who has achieved multiple world championships since 2016. Currently, he holds the title of the fastest man in the world on prostheses. Specially designed sports prosthetics have helped him improve his world record in the 200 meters, and he ranks as the fastest in his class for both the 100 and 400 meters.
Aside from the human connection with technology, stories of athletes who have overcome disability challenges to achieve remarkable success can be a powerful source of inspiration for young amputees and all of us.
Beatrice Vio, better known as Bebe Vio, is a young Italian wheelchair fencer who has won 4 Paralympic medals, 3 world championships, and 5 European championships despite losing all her limbs to meningitis. She is now aiming for her third gold in a row at the upcoming Paris Paralympic Games. In addition to her athletic achievements, she is also a motivational speaker, an avid campaigner for vaccination, an author, and a Netflix TV star.
Yet another inspiring story comes from Mike Schultz, also known as Monster Mike, who personifies the quote “Necessity is the mother of invention”. This Snowboarding Paralympic champion not only defeated disability but also designed his own prosthetic leg. After his snowboarding accident in 2008, he couldn’t find a prosthetic leg that could accommodate the impact required for his snowboarding or dirt biking. Rather than waiting for better technology, he took matters into his own hands and started designing and prototyping a prosthetic leg that would bear the impact. Since then, he has won 3 Paralympic medals in snowboarding, eight X-Games gold medals in Motocross and Snowcross, and several other championships. His innovation also has helped hundreds of other athletes and amputees, including 30 Paralympians.
As a company focused on upper limb prosthetic hand technology, we are proud to have two exceptional users who are Paralympians, Sarai Gascón Moreno and Lizzi Smith. Zeus' prosthetic hand supports these athletes to engage in a wide range of activities, from lifting weights to preparing meals, with ease and precision. The Zeus bionic hand features advanced signal processing, wireless gain adjustment, and exceptional grip strength, allowing Sarai and Lizzi to effectively manage their fitness routines and daily tasks.
Sarai, a Spanish Paralympic swimmer who competes in the S9 category, has won 8 Paralympic medals since 2008 and 27 world championships. In addition, she has collected over 42 medals from other competitions, earning her the well-deserved nickname, "The Medal Collector". Sarai’s journey with the Zeus hand began three years ago, and since then, she has relied on her Zeus bionic hand every day.
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Another talented Paralympian, Lizzi Smith, is also a Zeus bionic hand user. She competes in the S9 category as well. Lizzi is a young para swimmer who has won three Paralympic medals, seven world championships, and three Parapan-American Games. On the weekends, she gives back to the community by training future athletes at swimming clinics. As both Sarai and Lizzi compete in the same category, they not only inspire us as athletes but also demonstrate the value of true support through their friendly competition. Their relationship is all about uplifting each other and wishing one another the best.
As the countdown to the Paris Paralympic Games begins and we prepare to cheer for these athletes, we are reminded that true strength lies not in the absence of challenges but in the ability to rise above them.
