◆Chiba Yuko 2025/10/25-26 "Interpreting Athletes' Paralympic Experiences: Stories from Taiwan",　障害学国際セミナー2025,　於：京都（日本）
◇障害学国際セミナー2025 ◇障害学国際セミナー
◇障害学

Chiba Yuko 2025/10/25-26 "Interpreting Athletes' Paralympic Experiences: Stories from Taiwan",　障害学国際セミナー2025,　於：京都（日本）

BACKGROUND

This study explores what athletes may gain through participation in elite-level disability sport. Despite the growing prominence of the Paralympic Games, research focusing on how athletes themselves interpret their experiences remains limited. Drawing upon life-story interviews with Paralympic athletes in Taiwan, this study illustrates how engagement in sport can shape identities, life trajectories and social relationships. Taiwan provides an especially rich context, combining Western rights-based and Asian community-based perspectives on disability and inclusion.

METHODS

Fieldwork was conducted in Taiwan in 2019. Semi-structured life-story interviews were carried out with four (former) athletes with physical impairments and one coach. Each interview lasted approximately ninety minutes and was conducted in English, with Chinese–English interpretation when necessary. All participants gave informed consent, and pseudonyms are used here. In what follows, two of these athletes are highlighted and discussed in a summarised form.

LIFE STORIES

The two athletes selected here each offer a distinctive narrative of their engagement with disability sport. While their backgrounds differ, both accounts shed light on how sport can influence personal development and social participation.

Mr. Lin

Born in northern Taiwan in the 1960s, Mr. Lin spent much of his early childhood with limited mobility. He encountered disability sport as a young adult, through which he discovered physical activity and community connection. Over time, he transitioned from recreational participation to competitive shooting, a sport that suited his physical condition. Through sustained training, he eventually represented Taiwan internationally. Today, Mr. Lin remains active in the sport and contributes to a local organisation that promotes participation among others.

Mr. Chen

Mr. Chen was raised in a large extended family in rural Taiwan and experienced mobility challenges from an early age. As a young worker in Taipei, he was introduced to swimming for recreation, which gradually became an important part of his wellbeing. His dedication led him to international competitions, including the Paralympics. Now in his 60s, he continues to swim for exercise and shares his knowledge with local children through informal teaching.

DISCUSSION

Key themes emerging from the interviews are summarised below. (1) Pathways into sport Both athletes entered disability sport through informal routes and personal encounters rather than through structured programmes. Their experiences illustrate how access often depends on interpersonal networks and such accidental opportunities. (2) Identity and self-development Participation in sport supported the development of confidence, self-understanding and practical skills such as perseverance and self-management. These benefits extended beyond athletics, influencing their daily lives and future aspirations. (3) Global encounters and perspective building Experiences in international sporting settings broadened their outlook and exposed them to diverse approaches to disability and competition. These encounters contributed to a stronger sense of belonging within a wider disability sport community and encouraged reflection on their own contexts. (4) Redefining success and social contribution Over time, both athletes came to value forms of achievement that went beyond competitive results. Recognition from others, involvement in community activities and opportunities to support younger participants became important aspects of their sporting journeys. Their narratives reflect a form of empowerment grounded in mutual recognition, visibility and social contribution.

CONCLUSION

The stories of Mr. Lin and Mr. Chen illustrate how disability sport can influence lives far beyond rehabilitation or competitive achievement. Participation fostered their sense of self-realisation, strengthened their social connections and enabled them to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Their experiences suggest that empowerment emerges not solely from athletic success but from recognition, belonging and reciprocal relationships within and beyond sport.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I would like to express my deep gratitude to the athletes in Taiwan for sharing their experiences, the interpreter, and the local DPO in Taipei for their valuable help.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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