Long jumper embraces stage

Athlete with intellectual disabilities jumped through hoops to be classified in time for Paralympic Games

- DONNA SPENCER

Noah Vucsics got into trouble for jumping over garbage cans in the halls of Calgary’s James Fowler High School when he was in Grade 12.

A happy offshoot of that clash with authority was the suggestion that he take his springs to the track and field team.

Vucsics, now 24, will compete for Canada in men’s T20 long jump in the Paralympic Games in Paris on Saturday.

His classification is for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

Vucsics may struggle to process some information, but he speaks like a Shakespearean actor.

“Most students with intellectual disabilities don’t necessarily get the opportunities to do option classes or just don’t do option classes because they feel like they won’t fit in, like food classes. I remember in Grade 9, drama wasn’t on our high school sheet,” Vucsics said.

“I’m kind of an unusual guy with an intellectual disability who loves the stage, loves public speaking, loves drama. So Grade 11, I worked hard to do a monologue and memorize my lines, like all the other regular students, and I got to be a lost boy in a ‘Peter Pan’ production.

“That monologue really helped me overcome my biggest challenge, which was being the valedictorian for my graduation class.”

James Fowler opened the valedictorian floor in 2018 to a broader spectrum of candidates than just those with the highest grades.

Inspired, Vucsics, who had been in special education from Grade 4 to Grade 12 for extra support in math and reading, tried for and earned the honour.