“Our Paralympians embody what it means to be an American. They will compete with the pride and honor that is inherent in representing the United States of America, inspiring Americans young and old with their stories of triumph.”

—Scott Blackmun, United States Olympic Committee (USOC) Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

Two Mississippians, Joey Brinson and Ryan Estep of Florence, will compete in the Men’s Wheelchair Fencing events in London, but they have already served as inspirations to many others through service as AmeriCorps members in LIFE of Mississippi’s Project LINC program. Figuring out how to live life in a wheelchair wasn't enough for them: they threw themselves into helping people like themselves have the courage and resources to do the same.

 

Estep, 25, and Brinson, 35, were both sports standouts at Florence High School, before respective auto accidents left them each paraplegic.  Both have channeled their competitive spirit into wheelchair sports.

 

Both have quickly advanced in a sport that is notoriously difficult to master, even for those with prior fencing experience. Brinson has been fencing since 2006, and he is now ranked No. 1 in the U.S. in his weapon of choice, the sabre. Estep has only been fencing since 2009 and is already ranked No. 1 in the U.S. for epee.

 

The Paralympic Games, like the Olympic Games, is an international multi-sport competition, but features athletes with physical disabilities including amputations, blindness, cerebral palsy, and paralysis. The games have been held after the Olympics since 1960, and are today one of the world’s largest international sporting events.