Maryland Native Paralympian Becca Meyers Withdraws From Toyko Games After She Was Denied ‘Reasonable’ Accommodations

BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Maryland autochthonal and two-time Paralympian Becca Meyers announced Tuesday she volition beryllium withdrawing from the Tokyo Paralympic Games aft the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee “repeatedly denied” her “reasonable and indispensable accommodation” to bring her parent to the games.

Meyers, who is deaf and blind, needs her mother, who is her idiosyncratic attraction assistant, to beryllium determination with her.

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“I’ve had to marque the gut-wrenching determination to retreat from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics,” Meyers said successful a connection posted to Twitter. “I’m angry, I’m disappointed, but astir of all, I’m bittersweet to not beryllium representing my country.

Heartbroken to stock that I’m withdrawing from the Tokyo Paralympic Games. The USOPC has repeatedly denied my tenable and indispensable accommodation due to the fact that of my disability, leaving maine nary choice. Full connection below: pic.twitter.com/p9tKsbPip2

— Becca Meyers (@becca_meyers) July 20, 2021

The six-time medalist said the USOPC told her she doesn’t request a PCA she trusts due to the fact that there’s a azygous PCA connected unit that tin assistance her and 33 different Paralympic swimmers.

Her ma has been with her astatine each planetary meets since 2017.

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“With COVID, determination are caller information measures and limits of non-essential unit successful place, rightfully so, but a trusted PCA is indispensable for maine to compete,” Meyers wrote. “So, successful 2021, wherefore arsenic a disabled idiosyncratic americium I inactive warring for my rights?”

Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) tweeted enactment for Meyers.

“It is disgraceful that she was denied indispensable and tenable accommodations, which led to her withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics,” Cardin wrote. “Our Paralympic athletes merit better.”

Maryland autochthonal Becca Meyers is simply a two-time Paralympian and six-time medalist with 3 golden medals. It is disgraceful that she was denied indispensable and tenable accommodations, which led to her withdrawal from the Tokyo Olympics. Our Paralympic athletes merit better. https://t.co/zrylepqjNV

— Senator Ben Cardin (@SenatorCardin) July 20, 2021

CBS Baltimore Staff