Sample To Represent US In Paralympics
Reprinted from observertoday.com | June 25, 2021
Rayven Sample will be headed to Tokyo later this summer to perform on the world’s biggest sports stage.
The Jamestown resident and Cassadaga Valley Central School graduate confirmed Thursday afternoon that his first-place 400-meter finish in his classification at the United States Paralympic Team Trials in Minneapolis last weekend has landed him a berth on the paralympic track & field team.
Sample, who ran for the Falconer/Cassadaga Valley team in high school, just completed his freshman year at Bucknell University.
He is one of 61 athletes (35 men and 26 women) to make the U.S. Paralympic track & field squad. He learned of the news during a virtual meeting.
“For me, it was definitely a lot of relief, more than anything,” he said. “There wasn’t any doubt I could do this. I work every single day, it’s a huge passion of mine and I love the sport.
“When I heard my name, I kind of realized all that work paid off. I’m peaceful and super happy about it.”
So is Nick Spry, the Falconer/Cassadaga Valley assistant boys track & field coach.
“There’s excitement, but really it’s more relief,” he said. “Looking at the times, we kind of knew he was going to make it, but the anxiety was building in both of us.”
Stress no more, because Sample can now concentrate on preparing for the Tokyo Paralympic Games, which will be held Aug. 24 through Sept. 5.
Ranked No. 7 in the world in the 400 meters, Sample knows a thing or two about realizing a dream and overcoming obstacles. Born with arthrogryposis, an incurable joint condition that leaves him with little motion in his hands, he hasn’t let that stop him.
“For me, it was finding a passion,” he said. “When you find your passion and work hard toward it, things start falling into place. For me, taking everything that happened in my life and using it to devote to my passion, hopefully other people could see that and say, ‘That’s amazing’ and be motivated by my example.”
Sample, who turns 19 on July 10, said he planned to have dinner with family Thursday night to celebrate, but while he’s “loves the fact I’ve done all this,” he prefers to look at what’s in front of him rather than what he’s done in the past.
“I’m already in the mindset of ‘what do I have to do next?’” he said.
Spry noted that there will be a meeting today to go over all the logistics related to the Tokyo trip.
Sample joins a small group of Chautauqua County residents who have competed in the Olympics through the years. That list includes Jen Suhr, pole vault, 2008, 2012 and 2016; Tara VanDerveer, women’s basketball coach, 1996; Richard Shearman, manager of the U.S. speed skating, 1952; Jimm Clark, boxing, 1936; Alex Conti, assistant women’s wrestling coach, 2012; Geza Farkas, gymnastics, 1952 and 1956; and Chad Green, baseball, 1996.
Two other county residents, Brad Rendell (track and field, 1940) and Jay Kearney (canoeing, 1980) made the U.S. team, but the U.S. boycotted the games those years.
Source: https://www.observertoday.com/sports/local-sports/2021/06/tokyo-dreamin/
