In the beautiful city of Frączków, Poland, resides a legend who won four Paralympic medals and multiple Virtus Global Games and WPA World Championship titles, Barbara Bieganowska-Zając. Also known as the ‘Golden Basia’, Barbara is preparing to win her fifth Paralympic gold medal at Paris 2024.  

Barbara’s journey in sports began in her childhood. She was very active, everything interested her when she was a child. She got into initially through play, I started my adventure with athletics.”  

Barbara Bieganowska-Zając is married to her supportive husband Piotr and is the proud mother of two beautiful young daughters, Wiktoria and Martyna. Her daughters are well aware of her accomplishments and take pride in having a world and Paralympic champion as their mother. Balancing her roles as an athlete and a mother, Barbara excels in both, thanks to the unwavering support from her husband and family. They create a peaceful and quiet environment for her to train, which she deeply values. 

“My role as a mum I think I do very well—maybe not perfectly, but certainly very well. I share the roles perfectly as a mum, parent, and friend for my daughters. We get along well, support each other, and everything is okay.”  

“My family is also very active in sports. They support me spiritually and athletically and are always with me when I have difficult days.” 

Having lived a life with intellectual impairment, Barbara is keenly aware of the challenges faced by those with intellectual disabilities.  

“My disability hinders me a lot in such activities. I have problems filling in forms or any kind of paperwork, and I even find it very difficult to work with the ADAMS system, which I have to run on a daily basis and fill in various fields. I am very happy to have a husband who is by my side and helps me with all this. I am very grateful to him for that.” 

“In the beginning, everything in training was difficult for me because I was learning everything. And I am still learning. There are some workouts which are difficult for me, ones where I have to calculate times in continuous runs or speed stretches, where I need my coach’s help with that.” 

“People like me are invisible at first sight, and people just don’t believe us. We face many problems daily. It is more difficult for us to get a sponsor like people with physical disabilities. For a lot of people, it’s hard to understand that a person like me, who has two arms and two legs and can see, has a disability and can’t cope in life. It’s not all quite as many people think.” 

Barbara also mentioned facing trolls on social media due to her impairment. Despite the negative comments she received on social media early in her career, Barbara remains resilient.  

“In the beginning, I had all sorts of comments on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media about my personality. But I’m the kind of person who doesn’t take negative things from other people to heart. These are the kind of people who don’t understand people with intellectual impairment. The problem I have always had, and I do my best to keep it as low-profile and rare as possible” 

Barbara’s passion for athletics is evident in her training routine.  

“I work out from Monday to Saturday. I do them every day, systematically, and I break it up during the week so that I have the strength and time to do everything, but training always comes first.”  

Reflecting on her career, Barbara mentioned how Virtus events like the Virtus Global Games, Virtus European Championships, and Virtus World Championships have played a significant role in her career.  

“They certainly opened the way for me to the most important competition, the Paralympic Games, where I am competing.”  

Barbara has won four gold and one bronze at previous Paralympic Games, seven gold, two silver and one bronze at the World Championship, six gold from Virtus Global Games and multiple medals from regional championships. When asked about her favourite medal amongst all those which she collected from various international event, she remembered the silver medal she won at an event in New Zealand. 

 “Probably my most memorable run was at a competition in New Zealand. During the 1500-meter run, right after the start, one of the athletes stepped on my heel and pulled off my shoe. At that moment, I was very scared. I stopped, put my shoe back on, almost sprinted to the running group, and kept running with the group, but unfortunately, I paid for it at the end and lost the gold medal, winning silver instead. That silver medal from the world championships in New Zealand stayed in my mind so much.“ 

Looking up to her fellow athlete Rafal Rak, who is preparing for the Olympic Games in Paris, Barbara finds inspiration.  

“He is my role model today because, like me, he is running 1500 meters.”  

As she prepares for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, she recognizes all athletes as her competitors.  

“My goal is known: to go to the Paralympic Games. I have my goals, I have my dreams, and I am pursuing them. And my goal is to get the best possible place in Paris 2024.” 

“We (all the athletes) are all strong and will be well prepared. We will all fight for the best place, and time will tell who will win.” 

“My ultimate goal in life is to run, run, and run. I think I’m going to run as much as I have strength and health, and I’m definitely not going to stop at this Paralympic Games, which will be in Paris.”  

She shares a message for young athletes with intellectual disabilities: “I would like to tell you, dear ones, not to give up. Fight, have your goals, and pursue them as I did.” 

Barbara is grateful for campaigns that highlight the truth about people with intellectual disabilities.  

“I am very happy with Virtus launching this campaign that shows the truth about people with intellectual impairment and shows how things really are and not how people sometimes think.”  

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Barbara’s journey Visible. 

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT? 

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control.  

Yui-lam Chan, a talented young swimmer from Hong Kong, is all set to mesmerise everyone with her terrific swim at the upcoming Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Despite facing various challenges due to intellectual impairment and other health issues, she has risen to represent her region- Hong Kong, China on the international stage. 

Chan enjoys the support of a loving family including her father, mother, older sister, brother, and a pet. Her biggest supporter is her mother, who has been by her side since she started swimming as a child.  

“Even now that I represent our region in international competitions, she (her mother) will come over to the venue and cheer for me.” 

Chan’s role model is Siobhan Bernadette Haughey, a fellow swimmer known for her excellence and composure in competitions.  

“She achieved excellent results in lots of competitions not only because she has a body that is born for swimming, but she also has a very stable mental and physical status in every competition,” Chan admires. 

Yui Lam was born prematurely, leading to various health issues, including a respiratory disease and began learning to swim at the age of 10, which soon grew into a passion.  

“When I talk or do my work, the respiratory disease would make me cough like escaping from suffocation,” she explains. Swimming has significantly improved her condition by strengthening her cardiopulmonary functions. 

“It was not until I started swimming that I discovered the feeling in the water and the fun in it. Now, I am even good enough to represent our region to take part in competitions.”  

“Why I like swimming the most is not about results nor achievements I got but the people I met through my swimming journey like my teammates and coaches. Now that I can represent Hong Kong, China to compete worldwide, I also got the chance to meet top swimmers around the world.” 

Her rigorous training schedule involves six days a week, with around three hours of training each day. Persistence, she notes, is the most challenging aspect of training.  

“We are now representing our region to compete for remarkable results. Only by persisting and doing everything well during training can we achieve this goal.” 

Chan joined the swimming team through selection by the Hong Kong, China Sports Association for Persons with Intellectual Disability (HKSAPID) after a few years of learning swimming. Within a short span of 4 years, she was promoted to the elite team.

Yui Lam received her international eligibility with Virtus in January 2018 which opened doors for her at the international para-sports competitions. Her first international competition was the 2018 World Para Swimming World Series in Copenhagen, where she won multiple medals. She also broke an Asian record in the same year at the Indonesia 2018 Asian Para Games. In 2019, she achieved another breakthrough, participating in her first World Para Swimming Championships and broke her own Asian record again in 100m butterfly and won a bronze medal. This was also the first-ever World Para Swimming Championships medal in the history of the Hong Kong team.

Less than a month later, she competed in the Brisbane 2019 INAS Global Games and won an impressive tally of 2 golds, 3 silvers and 1 bronze in individual events. Her outstanding achievements also earned her the Certificate of Commendation in the Secretary of Home Affairs’ Commendation Scheme and the Cathay Pacific 2019 Hong Kong Junior Sports Stars Awards.

Earning around 58 medals, including six gold, four silver and one bronze from the 2023 Virtus Global Games, Yui Lam was awarded ‘Best Female Athlete of the Year – 2023‘ for her exceptional performance in the past few years.

Her favourite medal is from the Manchester 2023 Para Swimming World Championships, where she won the gold in the 100M Butterfly.  

“The gold medal I won got me qualified for the Paralympics, which means a lot to me. I am so happy for that.”  

As she prepares for her second Paralympic Games, Yui Lam’s goal is to set foot on the podium and set a new world record in her major event, the 100M Butterfly. 

Both (HKSAPID) and Virtus have played crucial roles in Chan’s journey.  

“HKSAPID offers us comprehensive training resources, while Virtus organizes competitions that drive athletes to reach our goals”, Chan acknowledges. 

Yui Lam’s message to young athletes with intellectual impairments is one of perseverance and dedication.  

“I was a beginner like every one of you when I first got in touch with swimming. There is no shortcut to excel in anything except practice. When you find something you are interested in, keep doing it! If you keep practising what you like, your persistence will finally pay off when you reach your goal.” 

Yui Lam’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, support, and passion. As she prepares for the Paris Paralympic Games, she continues to inspire others with her dedication and achievements, proving that with hard work and support, anything is possible 

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Yui Lam’s journey Visible. 

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT?  

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control.  

Nicholas Bennett, a Paralympic swimmer from Canada, is gearing up to make waves at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Hailing from Parksville, BC, Nicholas is not just an athlete; he’s a testament to resilience, determination, and the unwavering support of family and friends. For Nicholas, family is everything.

“I don’t know if I’ll have just one biggest supporter, I have my entire family behind me,” he shares. With a close-knit bond, Nicholas and his family share a unique connection that fuels his journey towards success.

His journey in swimming began at the age of seven, a few years after being diagnosed with autism.

“When I was three years old, I was diagnosed with my disability. My parents put me into a lot of therapy, speech therapy, and physical therapy, they even tried water therapy and they thought water therapy was the best for me because I responded quite well to it. It just kind of kicked off from there really. I joined swimming when I was 7, so just about four years after I was diagnosed with Autism and then it just started kind of cascading from there, you know, I’m here”.

Swimming became more than a sport; it became a sanctuary, providing solace and comfort in the quiet depths of the water.

“What I love the most about swimming is just being quiet underneath the water. It’s easy to clear the mind when you’re swimming. It’s the pressure of being underneath the water which I like of course, but also. I still use my blanket to cover my face while I sleep to replicate the feeling, I still do it. I find it quite comforting.”

With each stroke, Nicholas not only witnesses physical improvement but also experiences personal growth, recognizing the link between effort and progress in his training. This commitment exceeds the confines of the pool, influencing his perspective on life as a whole.

For many athletes with intellectual impairment or autism, finding coaches who truly understand their needs and training requirements can be a challenge. Nicholas is one of these athletes, but he is fortunate to have his sister filling both roles, as his sibling and coach.

Nicholas’s only sibling, Haley was originally a synchronized swimmer (now called artistic swimming) then switched to swimming after entering a Swim-O-Thon. Nicholas was in water therapy at age three and entered a competitive program at seven.

“We spend a lot of time together, so we don’t have to like the tip of sibling relationship. Like, we’ve never really fought a lot. I’ve been around her my entire life. Even when she went off to college, we were around each other. When I went off halfway across the country to Montreal, she came to help me settle in for the first couple of months as we’ve always just been,” Nicholas explains their unbreakable bond.

“It’s a relationship built on trust. We treat each other more as coach-athletes at the pool, but at the forefront, always siblings first,” Nicholas added.

Nicholas’s journey hasn’t been without its challenges. “As any high-level athlete, it’s just how much effort we have to put in to see any improvement,” he reflects. Yet, it’s this relentless dedication that has propelled him to success.

Nicholas registered on Virtus eligibility in early 2019 which opened doors to the international para-swimming events. He has been at his top form in the past few years, swimming out with two world titles (200m freestyle and 200m Individual medley) from Manchester 2023 and silver in 100m Breaststroke, silver in both 200m freestyle, gold in 200m Freestyle at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth games and 200m Individual medley from Madeira 2022.

Paris 2024 will be his second Paralympic Games and looking ahead, Nicholas remains focused on his goals.

“My target for Paris is just to replicate last year’s World Championship. If we only get one medal, it’s still a success,” he declares.

Despite the competition, Nicholas remains undeterred, ready to face whatever challenges come his way.

As he prepares to make his mark in Paris 2024, Nicholas’s ultimate goal exceeds swimming.

“I want the world to be better for younger autistic people, Just keep with it. Reach out for help if you need it,” he shares a message to young athletes.

Nicholas Bennett’s journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, the importance of family, and the limitless potential of the human spirit. As he dives into the waters of Paris 2024, he carries with him the hopes and dreams of a generation, proving that with determination and support, anything is possible.

Join Virtus’ #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE campaign in making Nicholas’s journey Visible.

WHAT IS INTELLECTUAL IMPAIRMENT?

Intellectual impairment is an umbrella term to describe a vast and neuro-diverse group of people with varying types of cognitive impairments including intellectual disability, Down syndrome and autism. Having an intellectual impairment impacts how an athlete understands the rules of the sport, interacts with other players, and adjusts to different environments. They might find it difficult to manage reaction times, remember specific race or game strategies, retain focus for long period of time, or maintaining impulse control.

Virtus Ambassador Jessica-Jane Applegate was recently spotted on the cover page of the UK’s ‘Big Issue Learning Disability Week edition, “Do You See Me?” The magazine was created in association with @mencap, by people with an intellectual impairment to help illustrate what they go through, celebrate their vital place in society, and present an edition from their perspective as they wanted it built.

Jessica-Jane Applegate is a swimming sensation who has captivated audiences with her remarkable achievements. At just 16, she won a gold medal for the UK, setting a Paralympic record in the 200m freestyle at the London 2012 Games. Four years later, she competed in the Rio Paralympics, earning silver and bronze medals, and in Tokyo 2021, she won gold in the relay and two bronze medals for freestyle and backstroke. Now aged 27, Jessica-Jane, who started swimming at a young age following her autism diagnosis, aims to inspire others to pursue their dreams.

Speaking in the article, Jessica-Jane said “I love winning medals because it makes me feel like all the hard training and work that I’ve put in has paid off. My favourite is gold. I love coming first,” she says, reflecting on her journey.

Jessica-Jane’s dedication to her sport is evident in her rigorous training schedule. “My training regime is really busy. I train every day except Sunday. I am in the pool once a day, sometimes twice, and I go to the gym. But I love the routine and I have been doing it for 12 years now,” she explains.

Growing up, Jessica-Jane struggled with excess energy and a lack of concentration.

“I’d tried different things, but they were more group activities and I didn’t communicate well. My mum took me to the special needs swim school, where my teachers were really understanding and I didn’t need to interact with anyone else, just swim,” she recalls.

The water has always been a place of solace for her. “I love being somewhere I can be me. It is somewhere I fit in, and I love the sound of water. It’s peaceful underwater and I feel safe away from the rest of the world,” she says.

Despite her impressive accomplishments, Jessica-Jane faces challenges due to her hidden disabilities.

“I have a learning disability with multiple health conditions, but you can’t see them. I wish the world was more inclusive for people with unseen disabilities,” she shares.

She recounts a viral TikTok video of her swimming during lockdown, where people commented, “What’s wrong with you? Broken an eyelash?” highlighting the ignorance she often encounters.

“Sponsorship is so much harder when you have a hidden disability. I’ve literally been told by brands that having a learning disability doesn’t fit their criteria at the time of the Paralympics. They want someone who looks obviously disabled so that people don’t question them or say, ‘there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with them,” she reveals. She even had a brand ask her, “Do you know anyone who looks more disabled than you who we could use for a TV advert?”

To others with learning disabilities, Jessica-Jane offers this advice: “You should not let anyone tell you that you can’t go for your dreams. They are your dreams and, as long as you enjoy it, then you should go for it.”

Many athletes with intellectual impairment go through similar issues like Jessica-Jane and Virtus Sport is on a mission to raise more awareness of intellectual impairment and elite sporting opportunities for the same group.

We want to congratulate Big Issue magazine for focussing on this important issue.

As the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics approach, taking place from August 28 to September 8, Virtus Sport has launched #MakingInvisibleVISIBLE to celebrate athletes with intellectual impairments and autism who will be competing at the upcoming Paralympic Games- Paris 2024 across three sports Athletics, Swimming and Table Tennis. #

#MakingInvisibleVISIBLE’ will: 

• Leverage the platform of the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games to raise awareness about intellectual impairments and make the invisible impairment ‘VISIBLE’.
• Challenge societal stereotypes surrounding individuals/athletes with intellectual impairments and/or autism. 
• Encourage people to recognize the exceptional abilities of athletes beyond their impairments.