Para- guides and assistants: the unsung athletes
By María Morena Vicente and Emiliano Rodriguez Nuesch
In this final article about the Paralympics, we spotlight the essential guides and assistants who play a crucial role in athletes' success, often working behind the scenes. These dedicated partners train alongside athletes, ensuring their safety and aiding their achievements, while also preparing for high-level competition themselves.
This year’s Paralympics feature 22 sports where athletes rely on these 'quiet collaborators.' Their contributions go beyond the field, offering profound lessons in trust and commitment through their deeply reciprocal relationships.
What can they teach us about compassion, trust and commitment?
Supporting para- athletes can take many forms. For example, visually impaired swimmers race full speed down their lane, and the last thing they want is to crash head-first into the wall.
This is where tappers come in—assistants stationed outside the pool who tap the swimmers once or twice as they approach the end of their lane.
Eliza Humphrey of Team GB is alerted by her "tapper" that she is nearing the end of the pool. (Getty Images: Ian MacNicol).
The devices used are often homemade. American swimmer Anastasia Pagonis, for example, uses a pool noodle taped to a pole, as shown in her Instagram reel.
The exact timing and style of the tap is something that involves a lot of coordination and practice between the athlete and their tapper. Want a better understanding of this? Watch this video.
Visually impaired runners are physically connected to their guides. Whether for sprints or marathons, guides ensure runners stay on course safely.
In this picture we can see Guide Tim Logan and Jaryd Clifford tied and in action during the men's 5000m T13 final. (Getty Images: Ezra Shaw)
Assistants must be as fast or faster than the athletes they guide, making them skilled and well-trained, that’s why they also train with the para-athlete, syncing strides and building trust over time.
Speaking of trust, visually impaired long jumpers rely heavily on their guides.
They must be aware of audible cues like shouts, claps or counting. Jumpers and guides dedicate countless hours to training, building a bond that goes beyond the sport itself.
“In the beginning stages, as an athlete who is blind, you have your guide and they’re there to guide you; they’re there to help you be successful on the track,” Lex Gillette, a five-time Paralympic silver medalist and four-time world champion in long jump, told USA Today. “And then you quickly realize that it’s much more than just what you do on the track. So I think that the beauty in our relationship has been that it’s evolved.”
And what about para-cycling? Pilots steer tandem bikes at high speeds. Visually impaired cyclists ride with a sighted pilot who handles navigation and gears, while the para-athlete, known as the stoker, provides the power.
Great Britain's Alison Peasgood and guide Brooke Gillies in action during the women's PTVI triathlon.(Getty Images: Zac Goodwin).
They plan their strategy ahead of time and communicate during the race through words or signals. Stokers often memorize the course and may remind the pilot about key turns or hydration.
It doesn’t matter which para-sport we are talking about, these stories remind us that behind every athletic achievement lies a profound story of support and mutual respect.
The dedication of these 'quiet collaborators' transcends the boundaries of sports, offering valuable lessons in trust and a deeper appreciation of human connections.
Read more stories of compassion, collaboration and teamwork:
How Paralympic boccia medallists and assistants create a dream team
How sprinters with vision impairment and their guides compete in sync
The quiet collaboration between Paralympic athletes and their assistants
8 Things to Know About Paralympic Guides, Pilots, and Tappers