Mickey looking to savour first Paralympic Games experience

“The cool thing about the Paralympics is everyone has a story and everyone had to overcome something to get there,” said Mickey. “I think that’s what’s really cool about it and hearing everyone’s stories just makes you want to do the best that you can do.”

When it comes to Mickey’s story, it’s an inspiring one to hear.

Growing up as an accomplished figure skater locally, Mickey was suddenly bed-ridden in high school and found herself losing the ability to walk.

It was determined that she had contracted Lyme disease which caused paralysis in her legs, resulting in dozens of hospital visits and physical therapy sessions.

“The first couple years were definitely hard, not something I ever want to re-live,” said Mickey. “But, it shaped and moulded me into the person that I am today. I think that I had to go through those hard times in order to come out on top and to come where I am today.”

While the disease took away the use of her legs, Mickey was determined to not let it take away her love of sports.

Just days after being released from the hospital, she connected with Medicine Hat Adaptive Sport and Recreation and its program coordinator Tara Chisholm.

“She was actually at one of our very first try-it events when we started Medicine Hat Adaptive, so she has been with us for the long haul,” said Chisholm. “To watch her journey has been just so amazing.”

That first event was hand cycling, something the Mickey admitted wasn’t her favourite activity to take part in.

Despite that, Chisholm could see it was immediately apparent that her athletic ability was still very much present.

“They went for a six or a 10 kilometre bike ride and I got a little bit mad at my fiance Derek who helps me run the program,” said Chisholm. “I was like, ‘It’s her very first time.’ And he was like, ‘She wouldn’t stop, she just wanted to keep going.’”

Quickly, Mickey graduated to sledge hockey where she rediscovered her love of the ice and even had a stint on Canada’s national women’s sledge hockey team.

In those early days competing for Canada was furthest thing from Mickey’s mind, as she just wanted to enjoy sport again and get a piece of her life back that she was missing.

“It’s helped more than I could ever imagine,” said Mickey. “It definitely has made me want to continue doing what I do and it makes all of the hospital stays, the pain, the sickness all worth it.”

Throwing disciplines eventually caught Mickey’s eye, especially discus and shot put where she began to excel with a steep learning curve.

That led to her international debut at the 2019 Parapan American Games, where she threw a personal best of 21.38 metres and finish just shy of the podium in fourth place.

“It’s helped more than I could ever imagine,” said Mickey. “It definitely has made me want to continue doing what I do and it makes all of the hospital stays, the pain, the sickness all worth it.”

Mickey followed that up a few months later with her first appearance at the 2019 World Championships, also capturing a top-five finish.

“It’s incredible to really think about that I actually have the potential to be up on that podium competing with the best,” said Mickey. “It’s truly an honour and I’m so excited to just have the opportunity to represent Canada at the biggest games.”

Her personal best set in Lima, Peru has since been smashed with Mickey throwing 23.47 metres earlier this summer which broke the Canadian record.

Now, she’ll compete for the first medal awarded at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in athletics.

For Chisholm, seeing Mickey roll onto the podium would be a full circle moment. However, she admits her greatest work has been becoming a role model for those dealing with their own disabilities.

“She might not see herself as that, but so many people young and old in our community look up to her and to what she’s done,” said Chisholm.

Not having her usual support system in Japan is presenting a new challenge for Mickey thanks to the spectator-less Paralympics.

The support from her hometown communities will still be the fire that lights her however, just from a distance this year.

“I have so much support here at home and I have the support of my teammates in Tokyo, all the coaches and all the support staff there,” said Mickey. “So, I definitely feel like even though I’m alone, I’m not alone either.”

Mickey will be competing in the F55 discus final which will take place in the evening of Thursday, August 26 here in Alberta.

by Scott Roblin

Mickey looking to savour first Paralympic Games experience

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