by site editor Rick McCharles
This is my friend Barkat from Bangladesh.
Does he look like a “physically challenged” athlete to you?
He is.
Barkat was a full-time gymnast who had competed internationally in Asian regional competitions. One day he decided to do some circles on pommel horse without any matting in place. He slipped, falling as he had thousands of times before, but this time somehow landed in such a way as to damage his upper spine. A fluke.
He was partially paralyzed.
If that happened to you, how would you respond?
It would either crush your spirit. Or you would get SUPER tough.
Today, with the support of family, friends and his Gymnastics Federation, Barkat is one of the most inspirational athletes I know. Charismatic, enthusiastic, well-spoken in English, he has redirected his talent into studies at Jahangirnagar University outside Dhaka.
Within months he became the University champion at able bodied table tennis, the only sport left he could do with limited lower body mobility.
He and I spoke at length about the future of Paralympic sport in his fast developing country. I believe Barkat will be one of the leaders.
I’m researching Paralympic sport right now, encouraging Barkat to get involved as an organizer now, despite his youth. He’s planning on organizing at the two largest Universities in Bangladesh, as a start. Paralympic Table Tennis, as a start.
If you have any advice or information that might help his cause, please leave a comment.
Everyone in the gymnastics community worldwide needs rally around any of our athletes catastrophically injured.
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