No Stoppin' Now | USA's 2008 Paralympic Silver Medalist

The U.S. Paralympic Track and Field trials were this past weekend in Tempe, AZ. Talk about a hot state. I can't remember the last time where I walked outdoors and my skin felt like it was going to melt. Even growing up in North Carolina, I can't remember any days where it was 112 degrees outside. That's ridiculous. Track and field is my job, and life, so I had to suck it up and make things happen out there.

Originally, I was supposed to run the 100M and 200M, but I strained my hamstring a few days before the trials so I dropped the two events to focus on my strength, J.U.M.P.I.N.G. I felt really good after warming up for the long jump, but once I started competing, I could feel the hammy acting up. I didn't perform that well, which sucks because all of the attention was on me since long jump was the last event of the night. Not only did I want to meet my standards for making the team, I also wanted to jump really far to display my talent. Needless to say, I did neither. I didn't jump well at all. The pain hindered me from running fast down the runway, but I gave it my best shot. My standard to make the team was 6.18M and I didn't even come close. I felt dejected. Long jump is my best event so I always expect to do well in it, but it didn't happen this time, but more importantly, I didn't meet my standard for making the team. But I still had triple jump on Sunday.

The next day, I came out pretty early in the morning (7:30AM) to get ready for the triple jump competition. Again, I warmed up and felt as good as I would ever feel with the injury. Wes, my guide runner and long/triple jump caller, pumped me up and gave me a lot of motivation and confidence. We feed off of each other so much while competing. He helps me keep my head up when things aren't going the way I want them to. The competition began and I took my first triple jump. By the way, this was my first time ever triple jumping in a competition, so I was kind of nervous about it, but the first jump killed the “first-time jitters”. I got through all of my jumps surprisingly, and I think all of them were legal. Meaning, I didn't foul on any of my attempts. My best triple jump was 11.50M (37 ft, 6.5 in). That also set a new American record in the event for my vision classification. I felt really good about it since it was my first time, but still, I didn't meet my standard for the team.

The banquet was later on that Sunday evening. I didn't even really want to go because I didn't want to go and listen to everyone's name being called for the team except for mine. After a while, I just said forget it, I'll go. As expected, they wouldn't announce the team until later on, so I was sitting at the table with my teammates trying to keep my composure. Time crept by, and finally, they started announcing the team. “Can we have Elexis Gillette come up here please?” Man, I was so relieved to have Coach Engle call my name. It seemed like a thousand pounds was let off my shoulders. I thought to myself, THANK GOD!!!

Now, I'm back at the Olympic Training Center rehabbing and trying to get my hamstring back into shape. Things are going good right now, but it'll take a little bit to heal it up totally. And now that I've made the 2008 Paralympic team, I can sleep easier at night knowing that I will now be getting paid, LOL.