I always remind people, sighted or not, that the way to get into sport is one step at a time. It's so easy to be distracted by either the great difficulties in the way of getting active or in how far you are from the 'ideal active person' you have set in your head. If you do want to start exercising or get involved in sport, try it, with no expectations, and see where the journey takes you. I just always remind myself to be brave, give it a go and communicate what I need. You might be surprised how far you'll go and don't forget to celebrate the milestones along the way!
In August 2023, over 1,200 blind and partially sighted athletes from 70 countries will travel to the UK to compete across 11 different sports at the IBSA World Games, including qualifying tournaments for the Paris Paralympic Games. Agata recently joined British Blind Sport to support the delivery of the Games. She talks about how she got into sport below and how it inspired her to become a part of the team that is bringing the international event to England for the first time.
Sport has become a huge part of my life. From the personal feeling of strength and freedom it gives me, to becoming a big part of my social life, I can't imagine life without it!
This wasn't always the case. Like many blind and partially sighted people, I wasn't given great sporting opportunities at school. I did attend a very supportive judo club when I was a teenager, and my parents were very encouraging (spending the early hours of Sunday morning out on our tandem), but it wasn't until I got to university that the world of sport really opened to me.
I began to run in 2016 when the disability sports officer at my university told me about the British Blind Sport Find a Guide running database. I had always been interested in running but didn't know how to get started. Suddenly, the world seemed to open up - here were individuals who knew how to support me to start running and had the time and 'know-how' to make it work. Running has continued to be a source of joy and exploration for me. It is something I can do wherever I live because you can always find a friendly running club to support you. I ran at university, then when I moved to Yorkshire and again to London. I've run on holiday and travelled abroad to run marathons in Spain and the USA. The me of 6 years ago would not have believed how many opportunities the decision to go on that first run would open up!
I have two stand-out memories. I'm at the start line of the Miami marathon in one, and the start line of the New York marathon in the other. We've just watched the wheelchair racers set off, ahead of the mass participation and elite field, and thousands of people have cheered them on. It's not every day that you see a huge crowd of disabled athletes at the peak of their fitness, about to embark on a challenging physical event, and being so publicly recognised and cheered for this. What is even more exciting is that now it's my turn. The blind and partially sighted athletes get ready to run. Together with hundreds of others, I cross the start line.
As a blind and partially sighted person, you don't often have the opportunity to take part in big sporting events with people who have experienced the same challenges and barriers and, more importantly, found ways to overcome them as you. The sense of belonging I've found participating in these marathons is one which I hope everyone gets to experience through their own sporting journey.
It's this hope which made me want to work on the IBSA World Games this year. We have such a chance to enable thousands of blind and partially sighted athletes to experience a truly world-class sporting experience. And we have the chance to show what athletes with sight loss can do, how exciting the sporting opportunities are and how high the athletic standard is.
For more information about the IBSA World Games or to get involved, visit: https://www.ibsagames2023.co.uk/
To find out more about guide running and the British Blind Sport Find a Guide programme, go to: https://runtogether.co.uk/get-involved/find-a-guide/
Agata and two other blind runners are holding hands with their arms raised in the air. They have just finished a race and are celebrating at the finish line.
