Local Paralympic athlete overcomes blindness to compete in world competition - East Idaho News
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Local Paralympic athlete overcomes blindness to compete in world competition

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POCATELLO — Tyson Gunter will fly across the world Wednesday to compete in the 2015 International Paralympic Athletic World Championships in Qatar.

Gunter, 27, recently returned from the Parapan Am Games in Toronto where he competed in two events. Gunter received a silver metal in the long jump, but claims he didn’t perform as well as he wanted in the 100 meter race.

“I’ve been working on the first 30 meters of my start in the 100,” Gunter says.

In this upcoming competition, he anticipates placing in the top three for the long jump event and hopes to qualify for the 100 meter.

Unlike the previous games, Gunter will be competing also in the 200 meter event.

“Just because of my height in the 100 it’s hard to get going… so in the 200 you get a little extra time to get going and I can hit top speed and hold it for longer,” Gunter says.

Gunter is legally blind and has been all his life. He’s always had a passion for athletics and doesn’t let his disability keep from his aspirations.

Gunter’s mother says that she’s nervous for him to travel and compete, but over all the family is more than supportive.

“Tyson has always had a determination to do the very best in anything he does. We will be proud of him because of that,” Vickie Gunter said, “Even if he doesn’t place.”

During the Paralympic events athletes with similar disabilities compete.

According to Paralympic.org to ensure fairness in competition the Paralympic organization has a very strict classification system.

“Classification is sport-specific because an impairment affects the ability to perform in different sports to a different extent,” the website states.

Regardless, athletes are still judged by skill, fitness, power, endurance, tactical ability and mental focus. These are the same factors that account for success in sport for able bodied athletes.

The games will be from Oct. 21 to Oct. 31 in Doha, Qatar. To watch the games live go to doha2015.org.

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