Watched the mixed relay in the highlights. Did anyone explain why the USA had a bloke on his own in the first leg when everyone else had a blindfolded female with an attached partner? Surely he should have been blindfolded as well to make it fair.
Visually impaired athletes don't have to use guides (unless you are T11, he is T12 which is optional, T13 doesn't need them). His impairment without a guide could make it a similar challenge to someone who is blindfolded but has a guide with them to keep them in the lines and updated on distance markers whereas he has to do that by himself. If he's never ran with a guide before, as he chooses not to for his solo races, then you can't just match him up to a random person for the relay, they train with a specific guide sometimes for years to be fully in synch. First leg runner's classification in order of final relay result: USA - Noah Malone T12 (optional guide) GBR - Libby Clegg T11 (compulsory guide) JPN - Uran Sawada T12 (optional guide) CHN - Cuiqing Liu T11 (compulsory guide) So Japan didn't have to use a guide but chose to do so, USA could have used one if they wanted to but chose not to.
Watching a non guided blind/ VI athlete in training is quite an education. One of the methods used for sprinters is "calling" . So, the coach will stand at the end of the track and basically shout numbers to the athlete. Can't remember if the numbers relate to lanes, but let's say "5" is on course, then "4" and "6" would mean that the athlete is straying off centre. It's impressive and terrifying in equal measure.
I saw an interview with a visually impaired runner and they were saying that when they train without their guide they do so by listening to their coach clapping. It's ingenious the techniques they come up with.
I've seen blind skiers flying down slopes, in radio contact with a guide nearby. Awe inspiring. Having been confronted with dense fog on occasions while skiing, I've nothing but admiration for these guys. Simply brilliant.
That's some level of trust. Not sure I'd make it down a slope in one piece, fully sighted, fastened to a guide, and with radio commentary!
Have you seen Goalball? I've used that as a tool to teach communication with mainstream football teams. It's amazing how cocky, confident sighted people soon shut up and listen to each other (and the approaching ball) when their body is literally on the line.
One of our members ( Hoyland reds) is visually impaired. And played/ coaches Yorkshire and England Visually impaired of varying degrees. To blind. Intrigued as I've seen other sports, but not, as in his case Cricket.
Thanks for the explanation. Noone explained that on the highlights. It did look odd seeing him run away with the first leg but I suppose that was down to the different attributes of a man vs a woman
Mrs F is a qualified disabled ski instructor/guide ( though not officially anymore in Europe as - that B word again means her BASI qualifications are no longer valid in the EU) She sometimes skis with a blind lass who doesnt use a radio but skis behind her and listens to her skis - she can even follow her down a crowded piste as each ski sounds slightly different apparently and she turns exactly where Mrs F has turned as she can follow the sound of the skis - I find it absolutely amazing Like Ian says I struggle to ski in fog so how blind skiers do it is beyond me - but that goes for most disabled athletes- and quite a few disabled none athletes as well for that matter.
In Paralympic equestrian are the horses also disabled? How much fun would blind boxing be? Or 10metre springboard wheelchair diving.
