1 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: Hey there, folks. Sure, Michael Phelps has a bunch of 2 00:00:06,400 --> 00:00:10,960 Speaker 1: Olympic medals, but he only got his for swimming, so 3 00:00:11,000 --> 00:00:14,640 Speaker 1: we ain't impressed because our guest today has medals in 4 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:20,480 Speaker 1: several different disciplines and in summer and winter games. So 5 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: take that, Phelps. Welcome everybody into this episode of Aby 6 00:00:25,000 --> 00:00:28,280 Speaker 1: and TJ Roapes. This is I'm excited. Our guest today 7 00:00:28,360 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: is someone I want more people to. 8 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:35,640 Speaker 2: Know exactly, Oksana Masters. She is the most decorated winter 9 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: para Olympian of all time. And it's funny you mentioned 10 00:00:39,280 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 2: Phelps because I was looking up the many articles that 11 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,600 Speaker 2: have been written about her and they said she dominates 12 00:00:44,640 --> 00:00:48,760 Speaker 2: sports to a Phelpsian degree. That is exactly how they 13 00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:52,400 Speaker 2: described her, because yes, she's a multi sport athlete. You 14 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:56,080 Speaker 2: don't see that when you look up Olympic athletes this level. No, no, 15 00:00:56,880 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 2: because you have to be focused singularly on what you 16 00:00:59,280 --> 00:01:02,760 Speaker 2: do and do it best, you know better than everyone else. Correct, 17 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:06,319 Speaker 2: But no, she has multiple sports and I love summer 18 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:07,480 Speaker 2: and winter Olympics. 19 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:08,080 Speaker 3: Are you kidding me? 20 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 2: Right now? 21 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:10,000 Speaker 3: How do you do that? 22 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: And if you're not impressed enough already, Just before we 23 00:01:15,520 --> 00:01:18,880 Speaker 1: came on to record this episode. We were just chatting 24 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,559 Speaker 1: with her before we bring her in, and she told 25 00:01:22,600 --> 00:01:26,200 Speaker 1: us she just went for a ride, a recovery ride 26 00:01:26,440 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: for an hour and forty five minutes. 27 00:01:28,319 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 2: Just an easy just an easy bike ride, an hour 28 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:34,080 Speaker 2: and forty five minutes. That's basically the equivalent of running 29 00:01:34,080 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 2: a half marathon. Yes, well for us, for us, for Olympians, 30 00:01:37,959 --> 00:01:38,520 Speaker 2: not so much. 31 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,920 Speaker 1: But for us, let's please say hello to Aksana Master's 32 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:45,880 Speaker 1: dear lady, thank you so so much for being here 33 00:01:45,920 --> 00:01:48,520 Speaker 1: and explain to people like you explained to us, why 34 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: isn't an hour and forty five minutes cycling for you 35 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: just a cool down, a recovery ride. Explain that. 36 00:01:58,120 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 4: Well. First of all, thank you guys so much for 37 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:04,840 Speaker 4: the like the extremely generous behind intro. Oh my gosh, 38 00:02:05,000 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 4: I have never been compared to like, oh Phelps cnsque 39 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:13,760 Speaker 4: like comparison at all. That was so funny. Also, you 40 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:17,520 Speaker 4: guys are runners, like you guys run, I have three 41 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 4: wheels and gears and stuff like that. A big difference 42 00:02:21,400 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 4: doing an hour forty five cool down to running for 43 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:28,520 Speaker 4: an hour and forty five for sure, But because it's 44 00:02:28,520 --> 00:02:31,959 Speaker 4: an hour forty five cool down, my races can vary, 45 00:02:32,040 --> 00:02:36,160 Speaker 4: like the time trial is between it can be like 46 00:02:36,200 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 4: a five mile race to about a fifteen sixteen mile 47 00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 4: race all out you and the clock, no drafting, but 48 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,840 Speaker 4: a road race and pack racing like the one coming 49 00:02:45,919 --> 00:02:52,840 Speaker 4: up in Paris is seventy seventy one kilometers long, so 50 00:02:52,880 --> 00:02:54,600 Speaker 4: it's like it's and it's gonna take a while. So 51 00:02:54,639 --> 00:02:57,840 Speaker 4: it's like just about double of the marathon. So because 52 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:01,000 Speaker 4: we'll be racing for three hours on the bike, it's 53 00:03:01,040 --> 00:03:03,360 Speaker 4: just putting in that sweat equity in that time. 54 00:03:03,720 --> 00:03:05,640 Speaker 2: Yes, that's a lot of endurance that you have to 55 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:11,760 Speaker 2: prepare for. So we mentioned you have competed in para rowing, 56 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 2: para biathlon, Paris, Nordic skiing, paras cycling. 57 00:03:18,160 --> 00:03:19,320 Speaker 3: I can't even keep it straight. 58 00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:22,400 Speaker 2: And you've been competing in the Paralympics since twenty twelve. 59 00:03:23,160 --> 00:03:27,320 Speaker 2: What are you What are the specific events or I 60 00:03:27,320 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 2: should even say sports that you're competing in for the 61 00:03:30,360 --> 00:03:31,680 Speaker 2: Paris Paralympics. 62 00:03:32,840 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 4: For the Paris Paralympics, I'm getting old. It's just cycling. 63 00:03:35,880 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 4: I'm sticking to two events only and doing that and 64 00:03:39,680 --> 00:03:41,960 Speaker 4: in cycling the road events, so the time trial and 65 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 4: the road race, and yeah, and then in two years 66 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:47,920 Speaker 4: from now is the Milong twenty twenty six Games, So 67 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:50,119 Speaker 4: I'd be lying if I'm not training for Paris going 68 00:03:50,160 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 4: into it with literally I already checked out the gym 69 00:03:53,240 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 4: and the minute my events start, I'm going to transition 70 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,880 Speaker 4: to the winter side of cross country skiing. But yeah, 71 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:01,920 Speaker 4: it's just those two events, and it's going to be 72 00:04:02,520 --> 00:04:06,240 Speaker 4: It's going to be, honestly really challenging because in the 73 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:10,120 Speaker 4: US cycling is such an underrepresented sports and the resources 74 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 4: for it isn't as equal as my European competitors, where 75 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:20,880 Speaker 4: endurance sports and cycling is the Olympic level of their team, 76 00:04:21,040 --> 00:04:24,200 Speaker 4: they put the same resources and investments in as to 77 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 4: their paracycling team too. So it's going to be really 78 00:04:27,960 --> 00:04:31,760 Speaker 4: interesting but fun, and I'm hoping to put cycling more 79 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,920 Speaker 4: on a map for the US, especially for la coming up. 80 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:37,520 Speaker 1: You know, why isn't it there yet? Why is the 81 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:40,799 Speaker 1: European Why are the European countries so better or making 82 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 1: more of an investment and has it been getting better 83 00:04:43,480 --> 00:04:45,200 Speaker 1: over the years that we still got a long way 84 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:45,599 Speaker 1: to go here? 85 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,760 Speaker 4: Oh, in the US, I mean, it's gotten so much 86 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:53,520 Speaker 4: better for para sport in general, there's still so much 87 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:58,159 Speaker 4: that can be done, and it's very easy, simple things 88 00:04:58,240 --> 00:05:01,159 Speaker 4: like you guys allot to share my journey in my 89 00:05:01,240 --> 00:05:05,240 Speaker 4: sports with you and letting the world hear that because 90 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,400 Speaker 4: that's something that we can get better on and hear 91 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 4: more stories of incredible Paralympic athletes that I have a 92 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,920 Speaker 4: lot of teammates who are gold medalists and our world 93 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:18,240 Speaker 4: record holders, but you don't hear it because it's not 94 00:05:18,360 --> 00:05:24,559 Speaker 4: the culture within our country for endurance sports besides the marathon. Really, 95 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:31,120 Speaker 4: but like the viewership is getting so much better. The 96 00:05:31,160 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 4: sponsorship opportunities are so much better for para sports than 97 00:05:34,480 --> 00:05:38,400 Speaker 4: it was in twenty twelve when I was an athlete. 98 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:42,120 Speaker 4: But in Europe in general, like cycling is just a 99 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 4: way of life, and endurance sports in general are just more. 100 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:50,720 Speaker 4: Like it's so cool racing in Europe because in cycling, 101 00:05:50,720 --> 00:05:53,719 Speaker 4: when you're a world champion, you get the rainbow stripe jerseys. 102 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:56,240 Speaker 4: In the US, if I'm out writing or walk in 103 00:05:56,320 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 4: or something with my rainbow stripe jersey here, no one 104 00:05:59,200 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 4: understands what that is. We were at a hotel and 105 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:08,760 Speaker 4: Belgium and just this regular old couple were like they 106 00:06:08,760 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 4: see the Jersey and they're saying something in and they're 107 00:06:13,080 --> 00:06:18,159 Speaker 4: in whatever language that they were speaking in, and they're like, oh, champion, champion, 108 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:21,440 Speaker 4: because they recognized because it was so universal. 109 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:25,240 Speaker 2: Axana, you should walk around with your seventeen Olympic Paralympic 110 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,120 Speaker 2: medals and then they would know you you have seven gold, 111 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 2: seven silver, and three bronze. I bet you'd get some attention. 112 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,200 Speaker 4: I don't know about that. I just want to help 113 00:06:36,520 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 4: inspire the next generation of young girls, specifically to see 114 00:06:41,839 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 4: all the different sports and to not limit yourself to 115 00:06:44,480 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 4: try just one from a young age. Try them all 116 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 4: until you find that one that you love, one that 117 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,719 Speaker 4: means yeah. And if that means you have like seventeen 118 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:54,000 Speaker 4: medals along the way, then. 119 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 1: Which one is your favorite event? 120 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:02,160 Speaker 4: Oh that's so tough because it's like which one's your 121 00:07:02,200 --> 00:07:03,040 Speaker 4: favorite child. 122 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 1: My mom could tell you which one's your favorite child. 123 00:07:06,279 --> 00:07:06,720 Speaker 3: It's not. 124 00:07:08,880 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 4: He's like, it's me. 125 00:07:10,520 --> 00:07:12,080 Speaker 1: She knows me already. 126 00:07:12,160 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 4: Yeah, I would say probably rowing to be honest, it's 127 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,800 Speaker 4: the one I don't compete in now, but it's that sport. 128 00:07:19,960 --> 00:07:24,280 Speaker 4: It's it's like that first one, my first games. A 129 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:26,680 Speaker 4: lot of people don't know. I tried to actually make 130 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:28,480 Speaker 4: the Paralympic team in two thousand and eight when I 131 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 4: found out about the Paralympics and I didn't make it 132 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 4: in rowing. In that and it was that moment where 133 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:38,280 Speaker 4: I did not make that team in rowing is when 134 00:07:38,320 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 4: I realized how badly I really wanted this and how 135 00:07:41,280 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 4: much more it meant to me than just representing Team 136 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 4: USA and going to the Paralympics. But you have also 137 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:53,240 Speaker 4: better to handlines in rowing than cycling. No handlines. You 138 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:55,120 Speaker 4: just look deathly pale. 139 00:07:55,360 --> 00:07:57,560 Speaker 3: That's so funny. I love that. I love that you 140 00:07:57,600 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 3: even went there. That's great. 141 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 2: You know, I want to bring people up on your story. 142 00:08:01,680 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: It is you say you want to be an inspiration. 143 00:08:04,160 --> 00:08:06,480 Speaker 2: I mean, you just read the first few sentences of 144 00:08:06,520 --> 00:08:09,680 Speaker 2: what your early childhood was like, and it's it's mind 145 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:12,400 Speaker 2: blowing that you are where you are and you're doing 146 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:16,560 Speaker 2: what you're doing. You were born in Ukraine and you 147 00:08:16,600 --> 00:08:19,120 Speaker 2: were born with multiple congenital disabilities. 148 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,400 Speaker 3: Correct. Can you tell us a little bit about that. 149 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:25,560 Speaker 4: Yeah, So it wasn't actually until I was adopted. When 150 00:08:25,560 --> 00:08:28,680 Speaker 4: I was almost eight, went to my first dentist in 151 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:32,520 Speaker 4: America where they took X ray's my teeth and they 152 00:08:32,559 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 4: saw radiation signs of radiation in my adult teeth, and 153 00:08:37,000 --> 00:08:40,840 Speaker 4: so linking it to where I was and the path 154 00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:44,320 Speaker 4: of Chernobyl and the nuclear power plant leak that went 155 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:46,679 Speaker 4: off there, even though it was two years prior from 156 00:08:46,679 --> 00:08:52,120 Speaker 4: when I was born or three years wow, like the 157 00:08:52,240 --> 00:08:56,720 Speaker 4: radiation levels rise even higher throughout the years, even more 158 00:08:56,760 --> 00:09:00,920 Speaker 4: so than what it was the first explosion of it. Also, 159 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 4: my village where I lived in one of the orphanages, 160 00:09:04,280 --> 00:09:07,880 Speaker 4: had an active nuclear power plant that would also leak frequently, 161 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:12,600 Speaker 4: and so when I it was Yeah, so they just 162 00:09:12,640 --> 00:09:17,240 Speaker 4: concluded because of my birth, defects were everywhere. There were 163 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:21,000 Speaker 4: my teeth, my organs, my hands. I don't have a 164 00:09:21,080 --> 00:09:24,479 Speaker 4: bicep on my right side, so if I'm not focusing, 165 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 4: I felt weird veer off to the left because I's 166 00:09:27,559 --> 00:09:29,760 Speaker 4: not just have to have that much more focus on 167 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 4: it and in utero deformities or BRIT's effects. It's the 168 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 4: only reason, how what that explains for all of my 169 00:09:41,400 --> 00:09:45,360 Speaker 4: body having a little bit of an impact in the 170 00:09:45,400 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 4: developing stages, where if it was just like oftentimes it's 171 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,199 Speaker 4: other one side of the body that has an impairment 172 00:09:53,360 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 4: like a left and a right or it's very specific limbs. 173 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 4: But to have organs and to have enamel stripped from 174 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:05,120 Speaker 4: my teeth when inside, like that's the only thing I 175 00:10:05,120 --> 00:10:08,880 Speaker 4: can do it before birth is radiation. And I'm just 176 00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 4: so bombed because when I found out about how I 177 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:15,600 Speaker 4: got to be born with all these disabilities, are this deformities? 178 00:10:16,360 --> 00:10:19,040 Speaker 4: Like why couldn't I be like Hulk, Like he gets 179 00:10:19,160 --> 00:10:23,320 Speaker 4: that all that stuff, But I have this thing where 180 00:10:23,360 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 4: my hair won't curl, Like that's not cool, but I 181 00:10:26,760 --> 00:10:27,280 Speaker 4: mean it is. 182 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 2: It is remarkable, and I love that you can look 183 00:10:29,679 --> 00:10:31,800 Speaker 2: at it with humor, because that is sometimes the best 184 00:10:31,840 --> 00:10:35,640 Speaker 2: medicine of all, dealing with everything you've dealt with. But 185 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:38,280 Speaker 2: this is all from the aftermath of Chernobyl. I mean, 186 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:42,280 Speaker 2: it's just it's crazy. But you had your legs were 187 00:10:42,280 --> 00:10:47,200 Speaker 2: different lengths correct, and you didn't You had no thumbs. 188 00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:50,839 Speaker 2: Each hand had web fingers. Each foot had six toes. 189 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:52,959 Speaker 3: I mean this and your biological parents. 190 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:56,959 Speaker 4: I was so proud of that six toes. I should 191 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,160 Speaker 4: have stuck to swimming. I was born with web toes 192 00:10:59,200 --> 00:10:59,840 Speaker 4: and web feet. 193 00:11:00,480 --> 00:11:02,400 Speaker 1: Why it's true. 194 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:04,439 Speaker 3: I guess that would be helpful. 195 00:11:04,480 --> 00:11:07,720 Speaker 2: I'm sure you probably Yeah, you'd get in trouble because 196 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:09,439 Speaker 2: you just had an advantage over everyone else. 197 00:11:09,640 --> 00:11:11,920 Speaker 4: Yeah, then watch out, Michael Felts, right, and then you 198 00:11:11,960 --> 00:11:12,679 Speaker 4: really could do it. 199 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:16,720 Speaker 3: But your biological parents left you at an orphanage, correct. 200 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:27,040 Speaker 4: Yeah, And before I really realized how the adult understanding 201 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:31,199 Speaker 4: of why one would do that, especially to the orphanages 202 00:11:31,240 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 4: that I was left, and I was so angry at 203 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,520 Speaker 4: them because I could not understand why somebody would do that. 204 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:40,720 Speaker 4: And my mom, who adopted me, is so kind, so loving, 205 00:11:40,760 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 4: and always gave them a benefit of the doubt, and 206 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:46,320 Speaker 4: she was correct. Everything that she told me was growing 207 00:11:46,400 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 4: up is I'm sure they loved you, and it was 208 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 4: the hardest decision they had to make that they just 209 00:11:51,200 --> 00:11:54,880 Speaker 4: didn't have the resources to provide with all the things 210 00:11:54,880 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 4: that you were going to need to be healthy. And 211 00:11:59,640 --> 00:12:01,559 Speaker 4: later on, that's what I find out was one of 212 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 4: the reasons is the government just basically eventually just told 213 00:12:05,040 --> 00:12:07,800 Speaker 4: them like she died, to stop trying, like they did 214 00:12:07,800 --> 00:12:10,319 Speaker 4: not want to give me away, and the government just 215 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:14,000 Speaker 4: said she died, so they just relinquished me. Little did 216 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:18,600 Speaker 4: they know I actually did not die. I'm too stubborn 217 00:12:18,679 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 4: for that. I think die and I've lived my first 218 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:27,000 Speaker 4: years and three different orphanages, And the way it works 219 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:31,439 Speaker 4: is you go into like from birth to two, you're 220 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 4: in one orphanage, and then from two to five you're 221 00:12:34,200 --> 00:12:36,640 Speaker 4: in like a baby home, and then five years old 222 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:38,800 Speaker 4: you're considered an adult, so you move into the adult 223 00:12:38,920 --> 00:12:43,360 Speaker 4: orphanage with other kids that are also up to fifteen 224 00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 4: at fifteen for a female, sixteen for men. And if 225 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:50,600 Speaker 4: you're not adopted by them, they just you're just put 226 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:51,840 Speaker 4: out on the street, or a lot of the men 227 00:12:51,920 --> 00:13:00,120 Speaker 4: go into wow military. 228 00:13:02,520 --> 00:13:05,520 Speaker 1: Did you ever have a follow up or connect with 229 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: your birth parents afterwards? Do you have any idea where 230 00:13:09,080 --> 00:13:11,559 Speaker 1: they are, what happened to them? 231 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:15,320 Speaker 4: I do, so I do now through more, I found 232 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:19,160 Speaker 4: out I have two biological brothers, which is so crazy 233 00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 4: all through because when I was I had the opportunity 234 00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:25,840 Speaker 4: to go to the US Embassy in Kiev for a 235 00:13:25,880 --> 00:13:29,240 Speaker 4: diplomatic reason in twenty fifteen, because at that time it 236 00:13:29,480 --> 00:13:34,000 Speaker 4: was around the twenty fifth anniversary of the Ada Act, 237 00:13:34,760 --> 00:13:40,240 Speaker 4: and also because in twenty fourteen, not to get political 238 00:13:40,280 --> 00:13:44,320 Speaker 4: and bring it up, but right at like between the 239 00:13:44,360 --> 00:13:48,400 Speaker 4: socio Olympic and Paralympic Games, Russia invaded Ukraine and a 240 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:54,160 Speaker 4: lot of the military men were coming back with amputations 241 00:13:54,200 --> 00:13:56,960 Speaker 4: and all these injuries, so it's kind of a twofold. 242 00:13:57,080 --> 00:14:00,440 Speaker 4: I went back there because of the anniversary of the 243 00:14:00,480 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 4: Ada Act here in America and how to make society 244 00:14:03,480 --> 00:14:09,000 Speaker 4: more accessible for civilians, but also for the servicemen and 245 00:14:09,040 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 4: women who are fighting to protect their freedom, and to 246 00:14:13,080 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 4: show what's possible through prosthetics through wheelchairs. Little did I 247 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 4: know I'd have to climb up four flights of stairs 248 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:23,160 Speaker 4: to get up to where these people are in their hospital, 249 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:27,080 Speaker 4: which was wild. And then I also went there because 250 00:14:28,960 --> 00:14:30,960 Speaker 4: this is kind of like a short story. I'm just 251 00:14:31,000 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 4: making very long now at this point, I'm so sorry. 252 00:14:34,200 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 4: But I also went there because Ukraine's trying to get 253 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:42,200 Speaker 4: rid of orphanage government ran orphanages, and there's two different ones. 254 00:14:42,200 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 4: There's local orphanages and then there's government ran orphanages, and 255 00:14:46,600 --> 00:14:50,280 Speaker 4: those are the government ones are where all the corruption 256 00:14:50,440 --> 00:14:54,240 Speaker 4: happens and the mistreatment happens, and that's where I was 257 00:14:54,400 --> 00:14:57,680 Speaker 4: from birth. They're trying to turn it more into foster 258 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:01,200 Speaker 4: care and to provide these homes were kids can understand 259 00:15:01,280 --> 00:15:05,200 Speaker 4: and grow up with a homely environment instead of an 260 00:15:05,200 --> 00:15:09,680 Speaker 4: institutionalized environment, and so that was kind of strange. But 261 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:17,000 Speaker 4: because I was there, I literally my birth parents found 262 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:18,960 Speaker 4: out I was alive. I was there. I did not 263 00:15:19,000 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 4: get to meet them there. I wasn't ready for that, 264 00:15:21,120 --> 00:15:24,360 Speaker 4: but I do want to one day. I want to 265 00:15:24,400 --> 00:15:27,000 Speaker 4: meet them so bad. So I do want to ask 266 00:15:27,040 --> 00:15:29,240 Speaker 4: them where did I get this awful hairline from? Is it? 267 00:15:29,280 --> 00:15:31,760 Speaker 4: Who is it from? And why I ask that on 268 00:15:31,800 --> 00:15:35,760 Speaker 4: to me? Out of all the things you could. Yeah, like, 269 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:40,720 Speaker 4: I'm in communication with my two biological brothers right now, 270 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 4: and that's the hardest thing to be honest, is with 271 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:49,680 Speaker 4: what's going on right now with Ukraine. Is just like 272 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 4: I have a dream that can only come true in Ukraine, 273 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,080 Speaker 4: and I really hope one day there is a Ukraine 274 00:15:56,080 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 4: to go back to to meet to know where where 275 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,680 Speaker 4: I'm from and just get to know this identity. I've 276 00:16:04,680 --> 00:16:09,080 Speaker 4: always had a question mark that. Yeah, so I just 277 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:10,600 Speaker 4: hopefully that will happen. 278 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:16,600 Speaker 1: But yeah, well that is I wasn't expecting that story. 279 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,240 Speaker 1: But how long I'm sorry, no, no, no, what I'm saying 280 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,160 Speaker 1: it was, I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting 281 00:16:22,160 --> 00:16:24,320 Speaker 1: to hear. When you you know, given all you've gone through, 282 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,880 Speaker 1: what you would feel about your birth parents, and to 283 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:29,560 Speaker 1: hear you now, it sounds like you had to get 284 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:32,080 Speaker 1: to a place. But how long did it take in life? 285 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,480 Speaker 1: What age were you before you some of that anger 286 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:36,880 Speaker 1: you even talked about started to maybe subside, and you 287 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: didn't hold a grudge against. 288 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 4: Them, Oh my gosh. Honestly, honest, I'd be lying if 289 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 4: I say I didn't have a little bit of anger now. 290 00:16:44,920 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 4: But it's not to them. It's just it's just that. 291 00:16:52,840 --> 00:16:54,440 Speaker 4: And I get this A lot A lot of people 292 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 4: are like, how are you so proud to be Ukrainian? 293 00:16:56,760 --> 00:16:59,480 Speaker 4: Why do you still love a country and so proud 294 00:17:00,200 --> 00:17:03,560 Speaker 4: in where the Ukrainian flag when you have all these 295 00:17:03,600 --> 00:17:06,280 Speaker 4: horrible memories, And yes, I do, but that wasn't the 296 00:17:06,400 --> 00:17:10,280 Speaker 4: country that it wasn't Ukraine. It was just a few 297 00:17:10,280 --> 00:17:13,480 Speaker 4: bad eggs. They're everywhere. They're within our families, they're within 298 00:17:13,520 --> 00:17:16,160 Speaker 4: our communities. There's a few bad eggs. And I could 299 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,439 Speaker 4: choose to let those few bad eggs determine how I 300 00:17:19,560 --> 00:17:22,240 Speaker 4: view where I come from and my identity, which is 301 00:17:22,880 --> 00:17:25,000 Speaker 4: that's my identity. I'm very proud to be Ukrainian and 302 00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:29,840 Speaker 4: I have really good memories, but I I don't know, 303 00:17:30,080 --> 00:17:33,399 Speaker 4: like it was sports for me is what helped me 304 00:17:33,520 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 4: process that and rowing and every time I had to 305 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 4: process and understand, like what happened to me was a 306 00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:49,320 Speaker 4: not okay. And I think it just one of those 307 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:51,160 Speaker 4: things that like a little bit of anchor is gonna 308 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:53,399 Speaker 4: always be there, but not to them specifically, just a 309 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:55,719 Speaker 4: little bit of like why do people have to do 310 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:59,760 Speaker 4: this to young kids, powerless kids without voices? And then 311 00:17:59,760 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 4: when I released my memoir, I got an overflooding amount 312 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:10,840 Speaker 4: of messages from kids in Ukrainian orphanages, but orphanage in 313 00:18:10,880 --> 00:18:14,440 Speaker 4: general like too that said, oh my gosh, I went 314 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:18,280 Speaker 4: through the exact same thing literally they and this was 315 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,760 Speaker 4: and they were just getting adopted or their new lives somehow. 316 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:25,920 Speaker 4: And this is just within like three four years. So 317 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,040 Speaker 4: that's the anger that I have more is that this 318 00:18:28,119 --> 00:18:30,359 Speaker 4: is still happening. It hasn't changed. 319 00:18:30,320 --> 00:18:35,040 Speaker 2: The abuse of young children in these institutionalized orphanages exactly. 320 00:18:36,119 --> 00:18:42,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, And you know, it's it is hard because I 321 00:18:42,560 --> 00:18:46,439 Speaker 4: have I can be angry about my disability, about my hands, 322 00:18:46,520 --> 00:18:49,840 Speaker 4: about my legs, but I think the hardest thing for 323 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:56,040 Speaker 4: me that I had to overcome was the scars on 324 00:18:56,080 --> 00:19:00,159 Speaker 4: my body. That's not resulted from my disability. It's a 325 00:19:00,200 --> 00:19:02,679 Speaker 4: scar that a story has been written for me. I 326 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:04,600 Speaker 4: never got to choose how I got it, where it 327 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:08,520 Speaker 4: was placed, or why. And that's that's when I think 328 00:19:08,520 --> 00:19:12,159 Speaker 4: about the anger, like that's just what it has. But 329 00:19:12,200 --> 00:19:15,479 Speaker 4: then like for me, the power of sport just really 330 00:19:15,520 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 4: helped me process it. I had to heal physically with 331 00:19:20,400 --> 00:19:22,840 Speaker 4: my new imputations and everything else, but it helped me 332 00:19:23,240 --> 00:19:27,200 Speaker 4: heal mentally and emotionally in ways I had no idea 333 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 4: that I truly needed. And it was a way like 334 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:33,439 Speaker 4: when you're a kid. I got into rowing when I 335 00:19:33,480 --> 00:19:36,680 Speaker 4: was thirteen. A lot of my memories I was suppressing 336 00:19:36,920 --> 00:19:41,560 Speaker 4: around sixteen to twenty, they were all flooding back. There's 337 00:19:41,640 --> 00:19:44,200 Speaker 4: like that's so true, Like where you can only put 338 00:19:44,880 --> 00:19:46,640 Speaker 4: a box and tie it up and you just get 339 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 4: a bigger rubber band around it and put more tape 340 00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:51,520 Speaker 4: on it. Eventually that box is gonna explode. It's a 341 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 4: matter of time. It's not sustainable. And I had sport 342 00:19:55,080 --> 00:19:59,440 Speaker 4: in my life when everything inside just exploded and went often. 343 00:20:00,080 --> 00:20:03,879 Speaker 4: It gave me a path and a direction and a 344 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:07,280 Speaker 4: way to be able to express and scream. I always say, 345 00:20:07,320 --> 00:20:10,480 Speaker 4: like a way to scream without needing to physically scream 346 00:20:11,000 --> 00:20:15,280 Speaker 4: and process when I didn't have the words to explain 347 00:20:15,359 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 4: and talk to someone of what I'm feeling. And I 348 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:24,119 Speaker 4: think in that way because sports became such a healing tool. 349 00:20:24,280 --> 00:20:26,440 Speaker 4: Not I want to be an Olympian Paralympic athlete, I 350 00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:30,560 Speaker 4: want to have a gold medal. It was it was 351 00:20:30,680 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 4: my escape and I loved it so much and that 352 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:38,560 Speaker 4: became a secret weapon in a way. Now heading into 353 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,560 Speaker 4: my seventh Paralympic Games, is that love for sport not 354 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:43,840 Speaker 4: just that love for winning. 355 00:20:44,880 --> 00:20:47,600 Speaker 2: That's incredible. Yes, sports, you're forced to be in the moment. 356 00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 2: How did you I'm curious just with with all of 357 00:20:50,480 --> 00:20:54,399 Speaker 2: the just issues stacked against you physically, and then you 358 00:20:54,440 --> 00:20:56,359 Speaker 2: said you had amputations. I believe you had both of 359 00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,680 Speaker 2: your legs amputated. What made you think, I know, I'll 360 00:20:59,720 --> 00:21:02,080 Speaker 2: get it to sports? How were you led in that direction? 361 00:21:02,200 --> 00:21:04,200 Speaker 2: That would be a lot of people would think the 362 00:21:04,280 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 2: last thing they thought they could do, But you did it. 363 00:21:06,760 --> 00:21:07,520 Speaker 3: How did it happen? 364 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:11,520 Speaker 4: It was the last thing I thought I could do too. Actually, 365 00:21:11,600 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 4: I had no idea that I could be an athlete. 366 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,000 Speaker 4: I was always active as a kid. I was always 367 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,680 Speaker 4: climbing on things, getting in trouble and just loved moving 368 00:21:20,720 --> 00:21:26,600 Speaker 4: my body and so my legs. Literally I was missing 369 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:28,479 Speaker 4: the main weight bearing bone and I had double of 370 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:30,840 Speaker 4: the non weight bearing bone, but it looked like assault 371 00:21:30,880 --> 00:21:32,920 Speaker 4: Shaker was when you look at the X ray of 372 00:21:33,000 --> 00:21:36,120 Speaker 4: the bone. Assault Shaker was just sprinkled across. So the 373 00:21:36,160 --> 00:21:42,280 Speaker 4: bone itself wasn't formed correctly at all. And I taught 374 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:43,880 Speaker 4: myself how to walk to be able to get around 375 00:21:43,880 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 4: in the orphanage, to just survival instinct. But because I 376 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 4: was so malnourished, it hurt, but it wasn't affecting me 377 00:21:52,640 --> 00:21:55,280 Speaker 4: to the point where when I came to America and 378 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:58,800 Speaker 4: I grew about I think like eleven inches within the 379 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:01,199 Speaker 4: first two months, which is a lot just based on 380 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:06,560 Speaker 4: food alone, and the weight couldn't sustain that. So I 381 00:22:06,560 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 4: had to have amputated above the knee, which in itself 382 00:22:11,080 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 4: is very different than being a below the knee amputee. 383 00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:18,080 Speaker 4: Like missing every joint you're missing, it just makes it 384 00:22:18,160 --> 00:22:21,520 Speaker 4: that much harder. And so of course when I was 385 00:22:21,880 --> 00:22:25,040 Speaker 4: nine and then fourteen, when I had my second leg amputated, 386 00:22:25,200 --> 00:22:27,320 Speaker 4: I was thinking about, I'll never have my knee pop 387 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:30,120 Speaker 4: kiss now. And that's where, like you know, like most 388 00:22:30,280 --> 00:22:32,800 Speaker 4: knees and stuff, you're just like the knee pops up 389 00:22:32,800 --> 00:22:35,280 Speaker 4: and Anne Hathaway and Princess Diaries. I was never gonna 390 00:22:35,280 --> 00:22:40,920 Speaker 4: have that moment to do that, like, yeah, well okay, 391 00:22:40,920 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 4: now I just got to destruct from what your original 392 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:44,040 Speaker 4: question was based on. 393 00:22:44,080 --> 00:22:46,720 Speaker 2: That, Well, it was based on after you know you're 394 00:22:47,000 --> 00:22:49,560 Speaker 2: having amputations, and how do you then think I know 395 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:50,520 Speaker 2: I'll be an athlete? 396 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:51,920 Speaker 3: I mean, where does that come from? 397 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 4: I think it's I did not think I was going 398 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 4: to be an athlete. It was right before my second 399 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:02,120 Speaker 4: amputation I was rowing and I was introduced to rowing 400 00:23:02,200 --> 00:23:04,960 Speaker 4: my mom and got me involved with ice skating when 401 00:23:04,960 --> 00:23:07,760 Speaker 4: we lived in Buffalo, New York, and it was more 402 00:23:07,800 --> 00:23:13,439 Speaker 4: so to learn the language, make some friends get stronger. 403 00:23:14,400 --> 00:23:20,320 Speaker 4: And then when we moved to Kentucky, I tried rowing 404 00:23:20,720 --> 00:23:22,920 Speaker 4: and that was my mom too. She's very persistent. We 405 00:23:22,960 --> 00:23:25,920 Speaker 4: could not be more opposite. She's not athletic, she does 406 00:23:25,920 --> 00:23:30,119 Speaker 4: not want to sweat. She's more a homebody who loves reading, 407 00:23:30,160 --> 00:23:32,240 Speaker 4: which I'm starting to appreciate reading now. But I just 408 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 4: wanted to be active. But she did say, just go 409 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 4: out and try rowing. We don't ever have to go 410 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,480 Speaker 4: back there if you don't like it, and I did. 411 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:45,720 Speaker 4: It did take some persuasion from finding out there was 412 00:23:45,760 --> 00:23:48,159 Speaker 4: a cute boy that was volunteering there in my middle school. 413 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:49,520 Speaker 4: So I was like, okay, I'll. 414 00:23:49,400 --> 00:23:53,680 Speaker 1: Try it is always comes back to some cute boy. 415 00:23:55,119 --> 00:23:57,919 Speaker 4: But then when I was in that hospital, have it 416 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:02,440 Speaker 4: gone through my second reputation. It was that moment where 417 00:24:03,880 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 4: they amputated. They promised to amputate below the knee, they 418 00:24:06,920 --> 00:24:09,359 Speaker 4: ended up amputating above the knee, and so when I 419 00:24:09,400 --> 00:24:11,400 Speaker 4: woke up and I saw both of my legs gone 420 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 4: above the knee. It was also a last minute decision. 421 00:24:15,480 --> 00:24:20,440 Speaker 4: They didn't leave enough skin to close up the incision, 422 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 4: so it resulted in addition to the epidural shifting and 423 00:24:24,320 --> 00:24:28,800 Speaker 4: numbing the wrong leg as well. It resulted in six 424 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,720 Speaker 4: months day, followed by more months after that. And it 425 00:24:32,840 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 4: was that moment with the first time I had to 426 00:24:34,600 --> 00:24:38,080 Speaker 4: be still in my life, and I remember just looking 427 00:24:38,119 --> 00:24:39,639 Speaker 4: at the tree and just like I want to be 428 00:24:40,160 --> 00:24:41,919 Speaker 4: I never want to be in this moment again. I 429 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,199 Speaker 4: want to move. The minute I can get out of here, 430 00:24:44,280 --> 00:24:47,840 Speaker 4: I'm gonna move. And I thought about rowing getting back 431 00:24:47,920 --> 00:24:50,600 Speaker 4: on that water and that's the only thing I really 432 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,360 Speaker 4: thought about to get me through that. But I wasn't 433 00:24:53,359 --> 00:24:55,080 Speaker 4: thinking about it to be an athlete at that point, 434 00:24:55,320 --> 00:24:58,159 Speaker 4: like I just wanted to row. I just wanted to 435 00:24:58,200 --> 00:25:02,320 Speaker 4: be outside and feel that breeze I face and to 436 00:25:02,400 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 4: not ever be still in a bed. And I think 437 00:25:07,000 --> 00:25:12,120 Speaker 4: that moment of being an athlete kind of came when 438 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:16,800 Speaker 4: not making the Paralympic team in two thousand and eight 439 00:25:17,480 --> 00:25:20,320 Speaker 4: and making the choice to go and try and make 440 00:25:20,359 --> 00:25:24,960 Speaker 4: it for London in rowing twenty twelve, moving away from 441 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:29,119 Speaker 4: home and spending that whole winter on my own training 442 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:34,800 Speaker 4: with my growing partner, Rob Jones. That's where I think 443 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:38,119 Speaker 4: I want to be an athlete and represent Team USA 444 00:25:38,240 --> 00:25:40,919 Speaker 4: and do it for something so much bigger than just 445 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:46,600 Speaker 4: the love of my rowing sport. 446 00:25:52,480 --> 00:25:55,359 Speaker 1: Can you help folks for a second, we think about 447 00:25:55,480 --> 00:25:59,720 Speaker 1: paralympians or people who are disabled have differently able to 448 00:25:59,760 --> 00:26:02,600 Speaker 1: how or folks often want to say it, and they 449 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:05,879 Speaker 1: often lead with that, like that's the first thing that 450 00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:08,560 Speaker 1: they want to ask about, or they sometimes see or 451 00:26:09,600 --> 00:26:12,520 Speaker 1: oftentimes it feels like that's the thing that will define 452 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:16,560 Speaker 1: someone who has that is differently abled. But it was 453 00:26:16,600 --> 00:26:20,480 Speaker 1: cool on your website, the about you page, the first 454 00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: thing you say about yourself, I'm a coffee drinker, animal lover, 455 00:26:22,800 --> 00:26:25,800 Speaker 1: and world traveler. And so when we started this podcast 456 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:29,520 Speaker 1: with you at the top, people didn't We didn't even 457 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:32,359 Speaker 1: get into the fact that you have you were born 458 00:26:32,440 --> 00:26:35,679 Speaker 1: with this defect or that, and how does that and 459 00:26:35,760 --> 00:26:38,400 Speaker 1: how do how are you an ambassador in that way 460 00:26:38,480 --> 00:26:40,919 Speaker 1: or how or what advice even would you give to 461 00:26:40,960 --> 00:26:43,960 Speaker 1: people who might come in contact or get up face 462 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:45,639 Speaker 1: to face with you and they don't know what to 463 00:26:45,720 --> 00:26:48,399 Speaker 1: say or what to ask about or how to treat you. 464 00:26:48,640 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: That kind of a thing. I think that's always still 465 00:26:51,080 --> 00:26:54,320 Speaker 1: that thing for some people that are uncomfortable and don't 466 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:56,440 Speaker 1: know how to how to handle the moment. 467 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:00,840 Speaker 4: That's one hundred percent true. Like I think when we 468 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,680 Speaker 4: when I see people like literally staring so hard, but 469 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:05,359 Speaker 4: they don't want to turn their head to stairs, so 470 00:27:05,400 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 4: they're just choosing to be They think they're so subled 471 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:09,840 Speaker 4: by staring their eyeballs to the point they're about to 472 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:12,399 Speaker 4: pop out. Guess what, guys, I can still notice that. 473 00:27:12,440 --> 00:27:15,240 Speaker 4: It's okay, just go on and look. I would look too. 474 00:27:15,320 --> 00:27:17,920 Speaker 4: If somebody with bionic legs is walking by, and I 475 00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:20,520 Speaker 4: don't see that every single day. I'd be like going 476 00:27:20,600 --> 00:27:24,040 Speaker 4: on here, like don't try and hide it and act 477 00:27:24,119 --> 00:27:28,800 Speaker 4: like you don't see that. Like it's okay to be curious. Also, 478 00:27:28,880 --> 00:27:33,360 Speaker 4: it's okay for kids to be curious and ask questions. 479 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:36,239 Speaker 4: And you know, I'm too. In the bathroom and this 480 00:27:36,280 --> 00:27:40,000 Speaker 4: little girl, gosh, she's just so cute and she was 481 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:43,520 Speaker 4: so curious and she had to be like four or five, 482 00:27:44,160 --> 00:27:46,360 Speaker 4: and she's like, what's wrong with their legs? And she's 483 00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:49,919 Speaker 4: just screaming and the mom's just feeling mortified and she's like, 484 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:52,360 Speaker 4: just stop. She don't say anything, does anything, and that's 485 00:27:52,400 --> 00:27:55,560 Speaker 4: all that's wrong. She's like, but why, but because and 486 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:58,840 Speaker 4: she kept saying, but why, what's wrong with her? Like 487 00:27:58,880 --> 00:28:01,920 Speaker 4: what's where are her legs? And I've had two, I've 488 00:28:01,920 --> 00:28:04,760 Speaker 4: had her parents where there like these aren't cool? 489 00:28:04,880 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 1: Right? 490 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:07,360 Speaker 4: I bet she can run really fast or this this 491 00:28:07,440 --> 00:28:09,760 Speaker 4: allows her to walk probably better. I'm sure we can ask. 492 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,439 Speaker 4: That is a great way to like, hey, would you mind, 493 00:28:14,119 --> 00:28:17,080 Speaker 4: And it's okay to do that. Every person's going to 494 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:19,359 Speaker 4: be different. I'm very open to it. I would not 495 00:28:19,440 --> 00:28:21,760 Speaker 4: be showing my legs and I'm at the point now 496 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:26,159 Speaker 4: where I do show my legs I didn't always. It's 497 00:28:26,200 --> 00:28:30,159 Speaker 4: okay to ask questions, and for those young kids, allow 498 00:28:30,440 --> 00:28:37,440 Speaker 4: them to be curious because they're just so genuinely authentically 499 00:28:37,520 --> 00:28:41,000 Speaker 4: wondering what is this. They're probably think like when they 500 00:28:41,000 --> 00:28:43,960 Speaker 4: see me in my sit ski or my hand cycle, 501 00:28:44,000 --> 00:28:46,120 Speaker 4: they're like, oh my god, that was like a rocket. 502 00:28:46,360 --> 00:28:49,480 Speaker 4: They just see like they're so pure and curious and 503 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:55,360 Speaker 4: genuine and just genuine for individuals. Though, what it is 504 00:28:55,480 --> 00:28:58,000 Speaker 4: so hard is when I'm at a gas station getting 505 00:28:58,040 --> 00:29:00,800 Speaker 4: gas or buying toothpaste and dioda and those things that 506 00:29:00,840 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 4: no one likes to buy, but we have to those 507 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:06,160 Speaker 4: little small things like I don't want to hear I'm 508 00:29:06,200 --> 00:29:09,560 Speaker 4: inspiring for those reasons because I'm choosing to be out 509 00:29:09,600 --> 00:29:13,040 Speaker 4: there living my life, getting gas, buying toilet paper, like 510 00:29:14,600 --> 00:29:18,280 Speaker 4: because my also, my fiance is a paralympic athlete, and 511 00:29:18,320 --> 00:29:21,840 Speaker 4: you guys can only imagine the kind of looks we 512 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:26,360 Speaker 4: get or the kind of crazy thoughts people get when 513 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:29,280 Speaker 4: they see my fiance who's in a wheelchair and a 514 00:29:29,320 --> 00:29:32,200 Speaker 4: girl with no legs walking together and he's holding the 515 00:29:32,200 --> 00:29:34,000 Speaker 4: door for me and I'm walking and we're going to 516 00:29:34,320 --> 00:29:37,240 Speaker 4: date night for dinner and then this person looks back 517 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:39,800 Speaker 4: and like, oh, good for you, that is so sweet. 518 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:42,960 Speaker 4: Good for you guys for being out. And then Aaron's like, 519 00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:47,479 Speaker 4: oaksanna leave it, leave it because well that was a fuse. 520 00:29:47,880 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 4: I don't know if you've guys seen the inside out 521 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:54,080 Speaker 4: the movie, and it's like the angry one. I'm that 522 00:29:54,160 --> 00:29:56,640 Speaker 4: angry one, and all all of my emotions are just 523 00:29:56,680 --> 00:29:58,560 Speaker 4: pure anger when it comes to comments. 524 00:29:58,320 --> 00:30:02,080 Speaker 3: Like that, because it's past, it's patronizing, it. 525 00:30:02,000 --> 00:30:04,600 Speaker 4: Is yeah, and I was like, well as opposed to what, 526 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:08,479 Speaker 4: like why should I stop? And I get there are 527 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:11,960 Speaker 4: some people that for them it's hard. Everyone has a 528 00:30:12,040 --> 00:30:14,560 Speaker 4: journey that's going to be their timeline to get to 529 00:30:14,640 --> 00:30:19,680 Speaker 4: where I am now being okay walking out and being seen. 530 00:30:20,400 --> 00:30:23,680 Speaker 4: But it's look at me as a human first, don't 531 00:30:23,720 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 4: look at me and think, oh, there's a girl's no legs. First. 532 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:32,960 Speaker 4: I love coffee, I am planning a wedding, I love sports. 533 00:30:33,760 --> 00:30:37,000 Speaker 4: I don't like the cycling tainlines at all. Like I 534 00:30:37,120 --> 00:30:41,000 Speaker 4: like just all these like I'm so normal and because 535 00:30:41,040 --> 00:30:47,160 Speaker 4: I have, my physical appearance is so different. It's not 536 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 4: any different from someone if you have curly hair, straight hair, blonde, 537 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:55,560 Speaker 4: hair brown, hair, gray, whatever, skin color, language you are glasses, 538 00:30:56,080 --> 00:31:00,880 Speaker 4: Like why these prosthetics and wheelchairs and canes have to 539 00:31:01,160 --> 00:31:02,960 Speaker 4: all of a sudden be that, Oh my gosh, that's 540 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:10,280 Speaker 4: two different kind of thing, And like, I think it's 541 00:31:10,320 --> 00:31:12,840 Speaker 4: going to be different for everyone. I think learn how 542 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:16,120 Speaker 4: like people can like read the situation, see how the 543 00:31:16,240 --> 00:31:22,080 Speaker 4: vibe that individual athlete with a disability has. Maybe, but 544 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:25,680 Speaker 4: it's okay to ask questions, genuine questions, but do not 545 00:31:26,600 --> 00:31:31,240 Speaker 4: automatically assume I'm in the military and come up to 546 00:31:31,320 --> 00:31:33,120 Speaker 4: me and thank me for my service. 547 00:31:33,240 --> 00:31:38,160 Speaker 5: Oh people do that probably a cringe moment because and 548 00:31:38,200 --> 00:31:40,400 Speaker 5: do you know what they do afterwards or like, oh, 549 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:42,440 Speaker 5: thank you for your service or in the military, and 550 00:31:42,480 --> 00:31:44,560 Speaker 5: I say no, and they're like, oh okay, I walk 551 00:31:44,600 --> 00:31:47,160 Speaker 5: away and I've literally screamed out, but I still have 552 00:31:47,280 --> 00:31:50,760 Speaker 5: no legs, Like dude, Like, I. 553 00:31:50,760 --> 00:31:54,080 Speaker 3: Mean, that's bizarre. Wow, I mean I can't even imagine 554 00:31:54,560 --> 00:31:55,400 Speaker 3: the stories you have. 555 00:31:55,960 --> 00:31:58,440 Speaker 1: But that's a good point to human being first. If 556 00:31:58,480 --> 00:32:01,360 Speaker 1: you lead with this is a human being first, and 557 00:32:01,400 --> 00:32:04,240 Speaker 1: everything else will come. So Yeah, I just liked how 558 00:32:04,240 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 1: you put that on your page. I'm a coffee drink, 559 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:08,200 Speaker 1: I'm a world trip. You mentioned all these other things, 560 00:32:08,240 --> 00:32:12,080 Speaker 1: and yes you you're also a paralympian. That's just a 561 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:12,360 Speaker 1: part of. 562 00:32:12,320 --> 00:32:14,720 Speaker 3: The so happens to have seventeen medals. 563 00:32:16,360 --> 00:32:22,080 Speaker 4: That's so crazy. So I forgot that because all Winter Games. 564 00:32:22,160 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 4: But yeah, like I think it's the more normal. The 565 00:32:25,920 --> 00:32:29,840 Speaker 4: more society shows and includes people in wheelchairs and prosthetics 566 00:32:30,040 --> 00:32:35,160 Speaker 4: and shows the Paralympics alongside to the Olympics, it's going 567 00:32:35,200 --> 00:32:37,840 Speaker 4: to become more normal. We're going to start seeing it 568 00:32:37,920 --> 00:32:41,960 Speaker 4: more and more and more. And it's so important for 569 00:32:42,000 --> 00:32:44,959 Speaker 4: the next generation of young kids for it for them 570 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:49,600 Speaker 4: to see all walks of life be represented and seen 571 00:32:49,920 --> 00:32:55,080 Speaker 4: in the same light as a successful businessman, athletes, all 572 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:59,000 Speaker 4: these different areas, so it becomes more normal for them. 573 00:32:59,040 --> 00:33:01,520 Speaker 4: It's going to be a generation change and we start 574 00:33:01,560 --> 00:33:02,320 Speaker 4: by now. 575 00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:05,760 Speaker 2: That's amazing, and you're one of the main ambassadors. It's 576 00:33:05,800 --> 00:33:08,040 Speaker 2: so cool to see what you do and just reading 577 00:33:08,120 --> 00:33:11,160 Speaker 2: up on you and it's just you are remarkable in 578 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:13,200 Speaker 2: all that you do. When you are inspiring the next 579 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:16,360 Speaker 2: generation in every way, tell us what you're gonna do 580 00:33:16,480 --> 00:33:19,040 Speaker 2: in Paris? What are you bringing home with you? What 581 00:33:19,120 --> 00:33:21,520 Speaker 2: are your goals? If you look up like the top 582 00:33:21,560 --> 00:33:24,680 Speaker 2: ten athletes to notice. Ort of look at you're on 583 00:33:24,720 --> 00:33:26,920 Speaker 2: the list for your events. So what do you think 584 00:33:26,960 --> 00:33:28,520 Speaker 2: you're gonna do? You're gonna bring home more metal? 585 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:32,640 Speaker 4: Uh, that's the goal. That is the goal. I hope 586 00:33:32,680 --> 00:33:38,480 Speaker 4: I can bring back to very shiny yellow esque gold medals, 587 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:41,560 Speaker 4: golden squ metals. If not, I just want like a 588 00:33:41,640 --> 00:33:45,000 Speaker 4: metal I would be so proud. I think, you know, 589 00:33:45,080 --> 00:33:47,719 Speaker 4: even those is my seventh Paralympic Games. The one thing 590 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:50,479 Speaker 4: I never really had going into the other ones is 591 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:54,479 Speaker 4: being so proud of myself and feeling like I truly 592 00:33:54,520 --> 00:33:59,000 Speaker 4: belong and deserve being on that start line, and having 593 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:06,200 Speaker 4: the guts to just race with like, just fearlessly, just 594 00:34:06,400 --> 00:34:10,080 Speaker 4: believe in your training and just make those attacks be 595 00:34:10,239 --> 00:34:14,319 Speaker 4: that one to push the pace, push your be uncomfortable, 596 00:34:14,360 --> 00:34:21,399 Speaker 4: to make everyone else be uncomfortable. But also, like I do, 597 00:34:21,600 --> 00:34:23,200 Speaker 4: I do want those medals because I made a promise 598 00:34:23,200 --> 00:34:25,960 Speaker 4: to myself if I can, especially and because shanellebag's got 599 00:34:26,040 --> 00:34:28,160 Speaker 4: so expensive now it's just to a gold medal. If 600 00:34:28,160 --> 00:34:31,000 Speaker 4: I get a gold medal, I'm gonna buy my first 601 00:34:31,000 --> 00:34:33,080 Speaker 4: Shanelle bag because you can only buy it from there. 602 00:34:33,480 --> 00:34:37,080 Speaker 3: I love that. That's awesome. That is awesome. That's that's 603 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:38,920 Speaker 3: very incentivizing on Sonday. 604 00:34:38,960 --> 00:34:42,040 Speaker 1: It is such a pleasure to talk to you. We 605 00:34:42,040 --> 00:34:43,759 Speaker 1: were very excited to do so. We've been reading up 606 00:34:43,760 --> 00:34:45,960 Speaker 1: on you for the past week or so, so we uh, 607 00:34:46,160 --> 00:34:49,319 Speaker 1: we were excited, and you have exceeded all expectations. You 608 00:34:49,360 --> 00:34:54,000 Speaker 1: are an absolute hoot and just as normal as anything. 609 00:34:54,040 --> 00:34:56,680 Speaker 1: Like you said, folks, it's okay, she's a human being first, 610 00:34:56,760 --> 00:34:57,600 Speaker 1: but I. 611 00:34:57,480 --> 00:34:59,960 Speaker 4: Think I'm just over caffeinated as all. 612 00:35:01,400 --> 00:35:04,239 Speaker 1: Oh, when's the wedding? By the way, that's a good question. 613 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:09,160 Speaker 4: Ask Aaron that it took him You guys, don't let 614 00:35:09,200 --> 00:35:11,439 Speaker 4: ever do it to your partners. But it took him 615 00:35:11,480 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 4: eight years and three months. 616 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,680 Speaker 3: To proposed days eight years three months. 617 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:19,799 Speaker 4: And it was three weeks and I think it was 618 00:35:19,920 --> 00:35:27,560 Speaker 4: like around like six days five days. As this is Aaron. No, 619 00:35:27,640 --> 00:35:29,719 Speaker 4: he's not my fiance and my boyfriend. Still we've been 620 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:32,160 Speaker 4: dating for eight years and three months. 621 00:35:34,080 --> 00:35:35,400 Speaker 3: That's amazing. I love that. 622 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:38,480 Speaker 1: But you saw the racer, the runner in the Olympics. 623 00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:42,040 Speaker 1: She she finished the race, she got fourth, but she 624 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:44,840 Speaker 1: went over to the stands and proposed. 625 00:35:44,239 --> 00:35:46,600 Speaker 3: Herself after nine years of data. 626 00:35:46,680 --> 00:35:48,640 Speaker 1: It was nine years, so Hey, give it. Don't be 627 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:54,920 Speaker 1: so hard on Erin. Don't don't you do back him 628 00:35:54,920 --> 00:35:55,919 Speaker 1: just saying it could have been worse. 629 00:35:56,800 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 4: It is all we were dating for for that, but 630 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:03,279 Speaker 4: we were together and I've known him more than that. 631 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 1: Well, good luck, give him our best and at least 632 00:36:08,000 --> 00:36:11,840 Speaker 1: tell him I'm rooting for him. But let congratulations. We 633 00:36:11,880 --> 00:36:14,080 Speaker 1: will be watching you for sure in Paris. It's an 634 00:36:14,160 --> 00:36:16,920 Speaker 1: absolute pleasure talking to you and good luck and we 635 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:18,480 Speaker 1: absolutely want to talk to you down the road. 636 00:36:18,480 --> 00:36:20,680 Speaker 4: All right, Thank you guys so much. 637 00:36:20,920 --> 00:36:23,839 Speaker 3: Thank you, Exana, have a wonderful day you too. 638 00:36:24,040 --> 00:36:26,080 Speaker 1: Then, folks, you know where to find us as always 639 00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:29,320 Speaker 1: on our official Instagram page at Amy and TJ Podcast