David Beck: Why you should be excited about the Paralympics

Swimmer Sophie Pascoe during the naming of this year's Paralympic swimming team. Photo / File

OPINION:

For the past two weeks, Kiwis have ridden a high of Olympic-fuelled joy as our athletes claimed our best-ever medal haul in Tokyo.

From Lisa Carrington's remarkable collection of gold medals to Valerie Adams dedicating her shot put bronze to her two children, New Zealanders once again punched above their weight and did their nation proud.

Today, some may be feeling a little low, upset that something we looked forward to for the past five years is now over.

Well, I have good news for you.

From August 24 to September 5, another 28 inspirational Kiwi athletes will go for glory at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Chief among them is New Zealand's most decorated Paralympian Sophie Pascoe, whose record is, quite frankly, astonishing.

In the past three Paralympics combined, Pascoe has won nine gold medals and six silver medals. It is a record that is unlikely to be broken and at just 28, the Kiwi legend still has plenty in the tank.

Pascoe lost the lower half of one of her legs in a lawnmower accident when she was 2 but has never let it slow her down.

The Paralympics is full of athletes who have overcome adversity and sacrificed so much to be there. That is what makes these events so great.

Rotorua's Lisa Adams is heading to the Paralympics in Tokyo next month to compete in the shot put. Photo / File

Also among the Paralympians representing New Zealand is Rotorua's own Lisa Adams, competing in the shot put.

A relative baby in the sport, she has wasted no time developing her skills and made a rapid rise to become world champion in 2019.

Adams, who has left hemiplegia, a form of cerebral palsy affecting the movement and growth of muscles on the limbs of one side of her body, has spent the past couple of years leading up to the Paralympics being coached by older sister Valerie.

With so many years of experience and success, what better person to have in your camp during the lead-up to Tokyo?

Lisa is looking fit, strong and I cannot wait to see what she can achieve.

The whole New Zealand Paralympic team is full of athletes with fantastic potential who I have no doubt will make us all proud.

So, let's catch our breath after an outstanding Olympics and get behind them.