After Emotional Opening Win, a Tribute to Family

Text by BWF

A father who drove his son 2-1/2 hours one way to training and back for months. A single mother who juggled two jobs to help her daughter pursue Para badminton. These might seem relatively insignificant stories in the larger scheme of things, but it’s through such long-drawn, mostly unacknowledged efforts that the dreams of athletes are realised, particularly in Para sport.

For Short Stature (SH6) mixed doubles pair Miles Krajewski and Jayci Simon, their opening win at Paris 2024 was emotional as they recalled the sacrifices their parents had made over the years. To make their debut at the Paralympics and win their first match in front of family and friends was a moving experience.

“It’s super emotional for me, just because it’s our first Paralympics, and our first match here and to get a win. To see our hard work – not just the sacrificing I’ve had to do, but my whole family,” said Jayci Simon, after their 23-21 21-11 win over India’s Sivarajan Solaimalai and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan.

“My mom’s a single mom; she has two jobs in order to help with travel and everything, and (family) are just so supportive; they help with training and everything, so it means a lot. I have about 17 or 18 people here. Some are from all over the US and also from Spain and France. Pretty much all my extended family. My boyfriend’s from Spain, so he and his family came. And another friend from France, and some family and friends from the US.”

Simon and Krajewski live in different states, but for the Paralympics they managed to train together for three months. Krajewski is thankful to his father for the time and effort he takes to keep his son competitive.

“(To win) means a lot, just from all the time my dad takes, he drives 2-1/2 hours one way to take me to training and 2-1/2 hours back… my family has always been there, along with all the coaches that have hosted me and trained me.”

With qualifying tournaments all over the world, the travel requires great commitment from family and a shared vision.

“It’s pretty difficult, especially since I was in high school throughout the qualification, knowing I had to do all the homework and everything as well as play, it was a bit hard,” says Krajewski.

“I just graduated from high school and am now in university, so I’m missing the first week of class.”

Having put in the hard yards, the USA pair were happy with the way they delivered in the opening match.

“When it got close in the first game we just buckled down. Second game we were there with the fire in it and just took it from there.

“We’ve been training three months together, full time. It was nice to go out and see what we can put together. I can trust her in certain parts and she can trust me, without having to tell each other.”