Jaleen Roberts won a silver medal in the women’s 100m T37 final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics. But what is Jaleen Roberts’ disability and what does the T37 classification mean?
Jaleen Roberts takes silver medal in Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
American track and field athlete Jaleen Roberts won a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics.
The 22-year-old set an American record in the women’s 100m T37 final on Thursday.
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She finished just 0.01s ahead of China’s Fenfen Jiang in third.
Chinese athlete Xiaoyan Wen won the race, claiming her third gold medal of the Games.
What is Paralympic star Jaleen Roberts’ disability?
Jaleen Roberts was born on 19 November 1998, in Tacoma, Washington, USA.
Roberts was born with cerebral palsy.
She grew up playing a variety of sports including basketball, football, wrestling, and athletics.
She took up Para sports in 2017.
Coaches Teresa Skinner and David Greig introduced Roberts to Para athletics.
She said: “The biggest sacrifice that I had to make was my comfort. I was hesitant to join the Paralympics because I had always competed against able-bodied athletes, and never wanted to highlight my disability, a part of me that I wanted others to view as able.
“After stepping out of my comfort zone, I received many opportunities that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise.”
What is T37 in the Paralympics?
Jaleen Roberts won silver in the women’s 100m T37 final.
She is also competing in the 200m, long jump, and the universal relay in the Paralympics.
All are T37 classification.
T37 athletes in the Paralympics mostly includes people who have cerebral palsy, or who have had a stroke or traumatic brain injury.
T37 athletes have moderate hypertonia, ataxia or athetosis in one half of the body.
The other side of the body may be minimally affected but always demonstrates good functional ability in running.
Arm action is asymmetrical, and some trunk asymmetry is usually evident.
