Trevon Jenifer.Photo: Lintao Zhang/Getty
The Secret Service employee tells PEOPLE about that, his plans for storing his medals and support from his family while he was overseas.
So tell us about your experience in Japan?
Overall, I’ve put in a great deal of training and hard work over several years to get here so it’s a great feeling when the time came to go and compete. It is always an honor to compete on the world stage and I know I am not only representing my country but people with disabilities.
It is an unbelievable feeling to win back-to-back gold medals for the U.S. for the first time since 1976. So to know that we were able to make history again with this great group of athletes was a great journey. 2020 Tokyo was a hard-fought tournament, and it was great to see us battle the ups and downs and still secure a gold medal in the final.
Trevon Jenifer.Tasos Katopodis/Getty
How did you first get started in wheelchair basketball?
Why do you love the sport?
This team is a brotherhood/family where we battle day in and day out to get the job done. The saying ‘it takes a village’ fit perfectly for our situation as each player’s family connected, supported, and communicated with each other in our absence.
We are more than 12 of the top wheelchair basketball athletes in the U.S.A., we are a family that has built bonds that will last a lifetime.
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Was it challenging to compete without your family in Japan due to foreign and local spectator bans?
Competing without fans has been the status quo for the past year and a half, and it’s important to prioritize safety, so I understood that decision. Even though they weren’t in the stands, I know my family, friends and allies were still cheering me on and staring at greatness from afar. That’s true of my sponsors as well. Their support has been amazing — I even received letters of encouragement from Citi colleagues across the globe.
And how did your loved ones cheer you on from afar?
How crucial would you say support from companies like Citi is to your success?
That insight has led to a really powerful campaign. A campaign that reinforces that it’s time we rewrite the script and celebrate the achievements of all people with disabilities.
So where are you planning to keep your medal?
Finally, what do you hope people learn from your success and your story?
We all learn more when we have diverse experiences. That’s why I’ve always said the Paralympics are so powerful — it is an opportunity to expose yourself to something you’re not familiar with. At the end of the day, you could be a fan of something you’ve never seen before.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
source: people.com
