Krysten Coombs: Eager to Experience the True Paralympic Atmosphere

Jayce September 6, 2024 2 0

With just 43 days remaining until the opening of the 2024 Paris Paralympics, the British Paralympic badminton team is finalizing its preparations. Among them are three returning Paralympians and one debutant. Over the next few weeks, we’ll hear from each of them through the Badminton England blog. First up is Krysten Coombs, who made her Paralympic debut at the Tokyo Games, winning a bronze medal in badminton.

I know what it feels like to stand on the podium at the Paralympics. Now, I can’t wait to experience the true Paralympic atmosphere at the 2024 Paris Paralympics.

Winning a bronze medal in the badminton event at the Tokyo Paralympics was a dream come true and the culmination of many years of hard work in the sport.

It was a particularly special moment because my medal was the 124th and final medal won by the British team at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics—a piece of history I take pride in, even though it was beyond my control.

However, there was something missing in my Paralympic victory. Winning the bronze medal match in a gloomy, echoing arena, I longed for the presence of friends, family, and fans who, due to pandemic restrictions, could not be there.

Therefore, I’m thrilled to have another opportunity to wave the British flag at the Paralympics, and the 2024 Paris Paralympics promises to offer an entirely new experience compared to three years ago.

It will be incredible to have my loved ones in the stands, alongside thousands of fans watching me compete for gold—a far cry from the typical experience for para-badminton.

There might be additional pressure, but given that my Tokyo celebrations included a Zoom call with my family, their presence will only drive me to perform even better than the last Paralympics.

I am confident in my ability to return to the podium. The months leading up to the Games have been fantastic, and I can’t wait to start competing.

However, for me, the significance of the Paris Games goes beyond medals. I want to promote disability sports and highlight their profound impact on people’s lives, including my own.

Growing up, sports were essential to me. Introduced to the world of sports by the Dwarf Sports Association, I engaged in swimming, table tennis, and football before discovering badminton.

Making sports accessible to everyone is crucial—you don’t need to be an elite athlete to get involved.

If you get the chance, join a sports club you enjoy because it’s fantastic to stay healthy while being socially active.

Engaging in disability sports has been incredibly rewarding, and badminton has taken me to heights I never imagined as a child.

As I prepare for my second Paralympics, I am determined not to be overwhelmed by the bright lights and increased attention. Instead, I will rely on my professional career outside of sports to manage the pressure.

Having appeared in “Game of Thrones,” “The Witcher,” and various pantomimes, I know how to perform in front of the camera.

With the heightened media exposure during the Paralympics, I aim to use my composed demeanor to strive for another podium finish.