Johnston’s own Ellen Geddes represented Team USA in the 2020 Paralympics.
Geddes made her debut as a first-time Paralympian competing in wheelchair fencing as a Category B athlete, allowing no movement from her legs down.
In competition, she placed 10th in individual foil, 11th in individual epee, 7th in epee and 8th in foil team competitions.
For Geddes, the experience was phenomenal.
“Getting to participate in the Opening Ceremonies and getting to compete and just the whole experience was just fantastic,” she said.
Upon her arrival to Tokyo, she was greeted with the swag bags gifted by Team USA sponsors Nike and Ralph Lauren. Geddes and her teammates stayed in the Olympic Village where they could meet other athletes from around the world.
“Being in the Olympic Village was just absolutely great,” Geddes said. “Getting to talk to other Paralympians in other sports was fun. You know, everything was slightly different. Nobody on my team had ever been to a Paralympics before so we don’t know what was different, but I am just operating under the assumption that COVID made everything very different.”
One moment that stands out for Geddes was the Opening Ceremonies.
“Being in the tunnel for all of Team USA – like about to go out into the stadium – and just that feeling of camaraderie and seeing it was just absolutely phenomenal,” she said. “Like being with everybody and getting announced into the stadium, and then you go around the outside once and then you get to watch the second half of the Opening Ceremonies.”
Geddes, who hasn’t competed in an international competition since February 2020, said she felt the pressure of the big stage and she was happy with her performances.
“I was fairly happy for my first time out," she said. “In foil, I felt like I had the opportunity to make it into the top eight, but it just wasn’t there for me on the day. It just is what it is. Onwards to Paris, in that regard.
“I very much felt like I belonged on that stage, but I did feel a little bit rusty in the competition aspect,” Geddes said.
Geddes is looking forward to trying to qualify for the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
“I had been, like, oh no, I am going to be done? ... It is so close, how about we just try and see if we can do it again,” she said.
