Noelle Lambert and Jarryd Wallace, both Team USA athletes competing in the Paralympics, have found themselves transitioning from sprinting to the long jump at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Despite the age gap and different stages of their careers, Wallace, a veteran in his fourth Paralympic Games, and Lambert, competing in her second, support each other in this new passion for the long jump event.
Wallace, who previously excelled in sprint events, decided to switch to the long jump after feeling burnt out. He found the long jump to be less stress-driven compared to sprinting, allowing for more room for error. Lambert, on the other hand, embraced the challenge of a new event in her second Paralympic Games, driven by the desire to push herself out of her comfort zone despite the unsettling feeling of relying on a prosthetic for the jump.
Wallace, whose leg was amputated in high school, has been a successful sprinter, winning championships and setting world records. Lambert, a former lacrosse player who lost her leg in a moped accident, surprised everyone by beating the reigning national champion in her first track competition. Both athletes have now set their sights on impressing in the long jump at Paris 2024.
The mutual support between Wallace and Lambert extends to training advice and technical knowledge sharing, with Wallace offering valuable insights due to his longer experience as an amputee athlete. As they prepare for their events in Paris, Wallace reflects on the excitement of having spectators back in the stands after the empty stadiums in Tokyo. Lambert is currently ranked second in her classification worldwide, while Wallace holds the third position in his category.
As they embark on their new challenge of long jump at the Paralympic Games, Wallace and Lambert continue to inspire each other and showcase the resilience and determination of Paralympic athletes on the world stage.
