Lex Gillette, who lost his eyesight at the age of 8, began long jumping when he was 15 years old. Hesitant at first, Gillette “was able to conquer his fear and is now one of the best long jumpers in the world.” He holds the world record in this event at “6.73 meters – more than 22 feet.” And he’s no novice to the Paralympics. He first competed in the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, with this year being his fifth time in the games. Gillette has won four silver medals and seeks to win his first gold medal this time around, training several hours each day to achieve that goal. Read more about Lex Gillette in the WXYZ/7 ABC website article: Blind long jumper hopes to bring home gold at Tokyo Paralympics.
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