Earlier this summer, the 2024 Paris Olympics had audiences all around the globe tuned in and on the edge of their seats to see who, of the world’s athletes, would get the gold. From the chocolate muffin obsessed Norwegian swimmer to American Stephen Nedoroscik dominating on the pommel horse, people around the globe enjoyed the show.
The Olympics, to everyone’s disappointment, concluded on August 11, but passed the torch to its parallel, the Paralympics. From August 28 to September 8, the Paralympics showcased disabled athletes from all around the world in a spectacle that challenged the Olympics itself.
Alexandria City citizens already had their attention turned toward the first games due the standout American sprinter Noah Lyles being an ACHS alumni. Students and citizens should tune in once more to the summer games to support Nick Mayhugh, Northern Virginia native and paralympic sprinter.
Mayhugh was born in Manassas, VA on February 7, 1996. When Mayhugh was young, he always knew that something was wrong with the left side of his body, however, whenever he would mention it to adults they would tell him it was normal and to ignore it. He continued to play high level soccer even without full use of his left side.
At the age of 14 he suffered from a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. Due to this seizure his doctors discovered a dead spot in the right side of his brain that caused lack of feeling, motor movement, and sensation in his left arm, hand, and leg. It was then that he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. Cerebral palsy is when an abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain causes problems to the person’s motor ability.
After Mayhugh diagnosis, he was told he would never be able to play soccer again. Nevertheless, this didn’t stop Mayhugh who would later become State Cup Champion through the Olympic Development Soccer Team representing Virginia. He then played Division 1 soccer at Radford University for 4 years. While at Radford University he won the Big South Championship twice and was named Big South Champion three times.
In 2017, Mayhugh joined the US Para 7-a-side national soccer team. At the 2019 Lima Para Pan American Games he scored 8 goals in 6 games, which helped the US win the bronze medal. In 2018 and 2019, Mayhugh was nominated for player of the year and in 2019 he received the U.S Soccer Player of the Year with a Disability Award.
Mayhugh was recruited to join the US paralympic track and field team in 2019 as they prepared for the 2020 Paralympics. After much training, he went to the Tokyo Paralympic games with the classification T37 (able to walk, but may appear to have a limp as half their body is affected by cerebral palsy). At the Tokyo Paralympics he took home 3 gold medals (100m, 200m, and the 4x100m universal relay), 1 silver medal (400m), and broke 2 world records (100m and 200m).
In Paris, Mayhugh, at the age of 28, competed with the classification T38 (disability manifested as spasticity in at least one limb). The reason being that he was considered ‘too fast’ for his classification. This didn’t allow Mayhugh to race in the same events he competed at in Tokyo under the classification T37. By the end of the Paris Paralympics, Mayhugh, to his disappointment, had not been able to achieve the same feats he had at the Tokyo games. In the two events he competed in, he ended in 5th (Men’s long jump T28) and 7th (Men’s 100m T38). However, in the men’s long jump T28 he achieved his personal best at 6.32 meters.
While Mayhugh was disappointed with his results, his story is still one of bravery and persistence through hardships. Throughout his childhood he was told to quit but he didn’t listen and his dedication took him around the world. His determination serves as an inspiration to athletes and children who also face disabilities and his accomplishments are a source of great pride to the Northern Virginia community.
You can find Nick Mayhugh on his Instagram page (@nickmayhugh) sharing his life story and advocating for people with invisible disabilities.
