Femita Ayanbeku is the number one ranked a hundred-meter T64 Paralympian Sprinter inside the United States. She is a 3X Paralympian, 8X National Champ, 2019 Worlds Bronze Medalist within the 200-meter T64 occasion and the American Record holder within the one hundred-meter T64 event, clocking an amazing time of 12.
Eighty four seconds. If that by myself isn’t dazzling enough, 6 months after giving start to her first toddler, Ayanbeku certified for the 2024 Paris Paralympics in the a hundred-meter T64 occasion with a time of 13.01 seconds. Ayanbeku’s adventure as an elite sprinter didn’t even begin till she turned into 23 years old.
When Ayanbeku became 11, she became in a severe automobile twist of fate that resulted in life-changing accidents. She spent numerous days in health center, her proper leg changed into amputated because she misplaced an excessive amount of blood movement from the twist of fate.
Forward to 2015, Ayanbeku attended a going for walks health center in Boston, hosted by way of the Challenged Athletes Foundation and international scientific generation chief Össur, where she became decided on as a recipient of her first jogging blade.
A New Beginning
At the medical institution, Ayanbeku met decorated three-time Paralympian (2008, 2012, 2016) and -time Paralympic medalist (1 gold, 1 silver) Jerome Singleton. In conversation, Singleton asked Ayanbeku a question that led to some of her maximum hard and rewarding years ahead.
What do you want to do with your blade?" Ayanbeku remembered telling Singleton, “I want to discover ways to run, I need to do some thing significant with this.” Ayanbeku admitted at the time that she wanted to make suitable use of the blade, however she yet didn’t recognize the extent of her very own athletic ability, till she met Sherman Hart.
Soon after assembly on the health center, Singleton delivered Ayanbeku to his tune coach, Sherman Hart, at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, MA. Hart, a notably performed track and field educate, formerly of UMass Boston and Northeastern, recognized Ayanbeku’s capability as a world elegance sprinter and began training her in November of 2015.
Hart, rationale on being fully to be had for Ayanbeku instructed her from the beginning, “I’ll be here to paintings with you for as many days as you want to come; I’ll teach you.” Encouraged by way of Hart’s phrases, Ayanbeku took him up on his offer and showed as much as teach with Hart every day.
After only some months of devoted training, Ayanbeku entered her first competitive race in January 2016. Competing against collegiate athletes, she finished an outstanding 4th place. While she felt a twinge of sadness to start with, Hart reminded her of the significance of her success. “You should be proud,” he said, reinforcing the notion that she had simply taken her first step into the sector of aggressive going for walks.
As Ayanbeku's schooling advanced and the trials for the 2016 Rio Paralympics approached, her teach, Sherman Hart, recommended her to compete. Despite her astounding progress, Ayanbeku had never competed in this sort of prestigious event and was admittedly uncertain of her potential to carry out at any such excessive degree.
Coach Hart continued to emphasise the importance of the race and reassured her that she had the capacity to compete, in addition encouraging her to take the opportunity and go. With this, Ayanbeku decided to take a soar of religion.
She certified for the U.S. Paralympic Team, and shortly she became on her manner to the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. At the Rio Games, she located sixth within the 200-meter T44 and twelfth in the a hundred-meter T44 activities, a proud fulfillment that solidified her commitment on this new course.
Ayanbeku’s dedication continued to shine at the 2019 World Championships, where she earned a bronze medal within the 200-meter T64 occasion and finished 4th in the one hundred-meter T64 occasion. Not long after, in 2021, Ayanbeku achieved an exquisite achievement by using breaking the American Record in the a hundred-meter T64 event with an amazing 12.Eighty four 2nd time inside the U.S. Paralympic Team Trials.
After breaking the American Record, Ayanbeku become gearing up for the Tokyo Olympics. Unfortunately, she contracted COVID, which avoided her from competing. Though this became a widespread setback, she quick focused her efforts on qualifying for the next Olympics.
From New Mother to 2024 U.S. Paralympic Trials
As Ayanbeku organized for the U.S. Paralympic Trials preceding the 2024 Paris Paralympics, new demanding situations awaited. In January 2024, Ayanbeku joyfully welcomed her first infant into the world, simply six months earlier than the U.S. Paralympic Trials would start.
While pregnant, she turned into acutely aware that her opposition became education intensely, and he or she felt the pressure to hold up. It became a difficult time for Ayanbeku. Doctors recommended her to take it easy. She wasn’t able to sprint complete velocity, or raise heavy weights, and so she felt as idea she became trailing some distance at the back of her opposition.
Although her doctors suggested she wait 6 weeks after giving birth to start education once more, she commenced easing into schooling after just 4 weeks.
The manner of education while convalescing from being pregnant tested Ayanbeku mentally and bodily at a degree she had by no means skilled earlier than, requiring giant intellectual energy, strength of mind and bodily endurance through discomfort and ache that might no longer in any other case exist.
Reflecting on her training at this degree, Ayanbeku shared the mental conflict she faced, understanding her competition could educate without those added challenges.
And working thru the sensation of wanting to do more however being restricted through her body. She fought feelings of defeat, reminding herself every day, “Trust your schooling, agree with that your frame is aware of what it’s doing, and everything you’ve finished up until now, is all that you could have accomplished.”
Racing Back to the Top
In her first opposition main as much as the pains, Ayanbeku clocked a time of 14.1 seconds in the a hundred-meter occasion. Initially shocked by how lots floor she felt she had misplaced, she speedy located comfort in giving her frame the time it had to get better.
I just had a child, so whatever I can give is what I’ll get; I’ll keep on with the plan,” she reminded herself. This attitude fueled her determination to hold schooling and push ahead, along with her sights set on improving her overall performance for the approaching 2024 U.S. Paralympic Trials.
Ayanbeku’s accept as true with in herself and in her schooling, paid off immensely while she crossed the finish line on the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Trials. Reflecting lower back, Ayanbeku shared her thoughts on that moment.
Any different win, any other competition that I’ve carried out in my complete entire career, I’ve by no means felt the manner I felt, once I crossed that line on that day.”
Ayanbeku clocked an outstanding thirteen.01 seconds on the 2024 U.S. Paralympic Trials, rating her around 5th in the international for the 100-meter T64 event. This success is specifically extremely good thinking about she had given delivery just six months previous.
2024 Paris Paralympics
Now, as Ayanbeku seems ahead to the 2024 Paris Paralympics in overdue August, she ambitions to surpass her trial time. Her fastest time remains 12.Eighty four seconds in the a hundred-meter T64 occasion, the cutting-edge American Record, which she is working to interrupt.
When asked about what she appears forward to at the approaching Paralympic Games, Ayanbeku, who's still breastfeeding, said she is thrilled about the possibility to carry her daughter to the Olympic Village.
Allyson Felix, 11-time Olympic medalist and mom of two, partnered with Pamper to create the first-ever nursery at the Olympic Village, a area for Olympic mothers to bond with and nurse their toddlers amid their competitions.
Ayanbeku is asking ahead to creating loved memories along with her daughter at some stage in this large second in her profession—moments she may be proud to look again on collectively inside the future years.
Femita Ayanbeku's journey has been filled with challenges that few human beings, not to mention maximum athletes, will ever must face. Yet, her story shines as a powerful testomony to the unyielding power of dedication and resilience. With a fierce spirit, Ayanbeku draws from her studies to inspire others, pointing out, The biggest impediment for your way is your self.
There’s always a manner to fight thru. There will continually be moments that make you feel such as you’re now not meant to be doing this, but you may always discover a manner to make it take place.” Her words resonate with passion and conviction, reminding us all that with perseverance, whatever is possible.
