“But the Ocean is the Safest Place for Me”: Para Surfing Legends, Including One Who Lost Sight at Age 5, Prove Nothing Can Stop a Determined Soul

Matt Formston recently made headlines for riding waves that were almost 40 meters tall off the coast of Nazare, Portugal. Para surfer Victoria Feige just grabbed the gold medal at the 2022 World Championship.  Alelí Medina just won the first gold medal that Puerto Rico has ever won in Para Surfing.

It seems like Para surfers are on a roll these days. While surfing is not an easy sport, to begin with, it is twice as difficult for these wave-riders. However, their affliction only serves to make them stronger.

Matt Formston riding huge waves at 44

Nazare, Portugal is considered to be a top spot if you want to ride waves comparable to Everest. But for Matt Formston, riding these gigantic waves is easier than walking. “People think ‘blind’ and ‘surfing’ are like two things that shouldn’t come together,” Formston says, “But the ocean is the safest place for me.”

The 44-year-old wave rider, and a loving father of three, suffers from Muscular Dystrophy, which has led to the degeneration of his eyesight. But that has not been a hindrance in his love for riding the waves. “Most sighted surfers don’t want to have anything to do with that wave,” he told AFP, “But I love it. I love big waves.”

Read more: First Year as Pro Surfer Was Spent in a Van for Legend Nathan Fletcher, Revealed in 2021

The Australian surfer is now ranked as one of the most accomplished disabled surfers and even went on to participate in the ISA World Championship held at Pismo Beach.

Canada’s Victoria Feige has won four times in a row

This is the fourth consecutive time that Feige has won the International Surfing Association’s World Championships. She went on to say that she couldn’t believe it and that it was an “Incredible feeling”. Not only did Feige clinch the Champion title, but she also won every single game that came as a precursor to the championship.

While it is confirmed that Para surfing won’t be included in the upcoming Olympics to be held in Paris in 2024, the Para-surfing community, including Feige, is still optimistic about it. “…I have gotten this far because of the help of the adaptive surfing community and how hard the other girls in my field are pushing me. I’m so excited to see where we all go towards the Paralympics.”

Alelí Medina- The 13-year-old surfing prodigy

This year’s International Surfing Association’s World Championship also saw Puerto Rico receiving the first-ever medal in Para surfing. The honor went to Alelí Medina, the 13-year old to get the first ISA Para surfing accolade for her country.

Medina took part in the Women’s Vision Impairment 2 category and competed against Melissa Reid, the former three-time gold medalist.

Watching athletes overcome their adversities and move ahead to become the best in their field is a true form of inspiration to all of us.

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