Originally published on Spectrum News – December 21st, 2023
RALEIGH, N.C. — Six days a week, 17-year-old Evan Wilkerson jumps into the water to train for the upcoming Paralympics.
“I’ve always enjoyed it,” Wilkerson said. “I like being in the water. It feels good and is good exercise.”
But light and shapes are pretty much all he can see.
“I’m almost completely blind,” Wilkerson said. “I have some light perception and can see vague outlines, but it’s not actual seeing.”
While he hasn’t let that stop him from being a competitive swimmer, he recognizes the added challenges he faces every time he’s in the water compared to a regular swimmer.
Wilkerson says he can sometimes make out dark lines on the bottom of the pool to orient himself in the water. He also uses a tapper, a pool noodle on a pole, to let him know when he gets near the edge. It’s a role often filled by his mom.
“My vision doesn’t define me,” Wilkerson said. “I haven’t let it dictate what I can do.”
Wilkerson uses dark lines on the bottom of the pool to orient himself. (Spectrum News 1)
Wilkerson said he started swim lessons when he was 5 and began competing at age 7. Most recently, he competed in Santiago, Chile for the 2023 Parapan American Games.
“Walking out on the pool deck to first race with cap and flags, hearing the crowd,” Wilkerson said. “It’s made me realize this is what I’ve been working and training for eight years.”
He’s added he’s thankful for the constant support he gets from his parents, family and coach.
“Swimming against other blind people levels the playing field, and allows me to get out there and represent my country like sighted peers,” Wilkerson said. “Just keep going forward and don’t let vision tell me what I can and can’t do.”
Wilkerson loves that swimming is an individual sport that still has a fun team aspect and supportive community. He’s also an inspiration to other visually impaired athletes, encouraging them to overcome their challenges.
“It’s given me the ability to not only see trials, but at the end of these troubles, there’s something better that comes from overcoming them,” Wilkerson said. “If there’s anyone out there who’s looking into Paralympic swimming, blind swimmers, give it a shot. You can’t lose anything from doing it.”
Wilkerson says he’s training extra hard this year with the goal of making it to the 2024 Paralympic games in Paris.
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