Man! What a great opportunity I had to be able to compete in Lima Peru at the 2019 Para Pan American Games. Blessed and highly favored, Team USA took home the gold, and continued on as reigning ParaPan Champs.
Let me paint a picture what its like to compete for Team USA.
THE TRIP.
As a team, we all fly in together to one location, before flying off to main destination. This time we met at Houston, before flying off to Lima. On these trips we make sure that we have all the essentials in our backpacks: Hand sanitizer, wipes, tooth brush, tooth paste, ibuprofen, portable charger, deodorant, as well as all of the things needed to play, no exceptions. As a team, we all fly in our USA gear, and this may be biased, but I think Team USA is the happens to be the flyest when it comes to looking good while traveling!
ARRIVAL.
Upon arriving to Lima, we quickly are told to go to our own customs line. What I love most about traveling in a major event, is that we get treated like royalty. Our special customs line didn’t only apply to team USA, but to all the Lima athletes that were coming through. If you know anything about traveling abroad, and going through customs, you know that sometimes customs can be a NIGHTMARE. Thankfully, in situations like these, a nightmarish customs line is not the case.
Our drive is about 2 hours to the airport, and I’m just taking it all in. Lima is a new city, and I’m literally like a dear in headlights. The buildings are made of brick and concrete, and tightly built together. The driving is a little crazy; The other bus filled with the rest of our teammate got into an accident, so they ended up getting in about 45 minutes after us!
THE VILLAGE.
The village is literally a small town in which you live for the duration of the games. This village happened to be compact which was nice (not as much walking which is great for those who have prosthetic legs). As soon as you get in, there’s a welcome village, the apartment buildings, the cafeteria, and further down the international zone. The international zone was filled with shops, and food trucks, and a stage where different performers would come and entertain during the week. Hidden behind the back of the apartment buildings is an athlete lounge. The athlete lounge happens to be my favorite! There were about 8 rooms filled with different types of games to have fun. My personal favorite was air hockey (although i may have hurt my fingers a time or two playing with Tia, who happens to be an air hockey SHARK).
The village literally becomes a home away from home for all of us. We spend so much time there, meeting other people, spending time time in the athlete lounge hanging out with other countries. Even eating in the cafe, its like a high school reunion getting to see all of your old friends, even the new ones that we just may have made while being there.
OPENING CEREMONIES.
Imagine yourself walking out into an arena. You can see millions of flashes go off, you can see the other countries walk in before you as their names are called, and then suddenly your promoter says USA it’s your turn. Opening ceremonies is a huge celebration of countries, a celebration of the games, and the official start of the event, Lima 2019.
You walk the outskirt of the arena with thousands of people cheering in the stands. This opening ceremony was especially special because our team captain Katie Holloway, got to be flag bearer and represent for the ENTIRE DELEGATION OF USA. It was also super cool being able to walk in behind her (usually the flag bearer doesn’t get to have their team walk in right behind them). It was so amazing to be reminded of the cool opportunity we had, and that Tokyo 2020 was just around the corner.
COMPETITION.
Let me start by saying that we don’t compete until a week after we’ve already been there. That means the first week we spend in ANXIETY. We practice once a day for an hour at a practice location which happens to be closer than the actual venue. Practice is fun because since we only get an hour, there is a TON of play involved. We get one day to practice at the practice venue, and the first time we do it feels like magic! The venue is a fairly nice size, with Lima 2019 bordering the court, and flags that hang from the top which represent all the countries which will be competing in sitting volleyball.
Once we start playing, our matches happen to be late. I don’t mind the late matches, but since it was currently winter, and our venue was open, it was COLD. There were some matches where teams actually wore long sleeved shirts under their jerseys, or leggings under their shorts. I wore leggings under my shorts one time, and it worked out perfectly.
At the venue before you compete, you warm up on a practice court. We play music, get some 3 on 3 deep court going, hype ourselves up. It’s the perfect time to set your mind to what your about to do, and try and get some jitters out before the match. Then we walk out to the side entrance of the venue. Here we stand side by side to the other team to walk out when the match is announced. It almost reminds me of boxing match, when people are standing there ready to walk out when there name is called. Annddddd this is exactly how Kaleo, Tia, and I treat it. Haha! We literally bounce around, and when Kaleo says uppercut, we swiftly uppercut the air. Its moments like these that make my heart so happy.
Once they announce the game, we walk out onto the court and get ready for the national anthems to be played. I cannot describe the feeling that I get when I hear my national anthem play. For me, I feel blessed beyond measure, super emotional, because I am part of that small percentage that actually gets to represent my country. Because I have this awesome opportunity to represent something that is bigger than me, and stand on a platform that will be there for the rest of my life.
I LOVED playing in that venue. I love playing in large venues, with stadium seating, and tons of people in the crowd. I love high energy places, bright lights, and an adrenaline rush. If I could pick out one thing that I loved the most about Lima, it would be our venue.
At the end of competition. there is a ceremony. We all get our medals put around our neck, and a small plushie of the mascot of that tournament. This trip we got a small Milco, made out of clay. They also give out awards , and we took home 3: Best setter (Kaleo), Best Hitter (Heather), and MVP (Heather).
There are so many little details and factors that play into our competition life. Sometimes, we get moments of adversity, and sometimes we get moments of adventure. Either way, to compete for Team USA is one of the coolest things about my life, and I wouldn’t change it for the world.
X. Nicky.
