Perseverance of a Six-Time Paralympian

Lisa Czechowski of Fort Wayne, Indiana, makes balancing her life between her family, her work at Turnstone Center for Children and Adults with Disabilities, and her remarkable career as a six-time goalball Paralympian seem effortless.

Born with nystagmus and later diagnosed with achromatopsia, Lisa always remembers having challenges with her vision. But it wasn’t until 2017 that she was finally diagnosed with cone-rod dystrophy. As a teenager, Lisa struggled with her vision loss and felt like a barrier when surrounded by her sighted peers. Eventually, she realized that it was an opportunity to educate and create change in the world.

Lisa’s athletic career began in high school with track and field, where she found solace and confidence in throwing events like discus and javelin.

“I really fell in love with the throwing events since you’re in a very controlled environment, which is nice being visually impaired,” says Lisa. “When I competed, no one knew or looked at me like I was blind or visually impaired, and as a teenager, I wanted to blend in. Participating in track & field gave me the opportunity to grow in the area of self-confidence.”

So, when Lisa was presented with opportunities to play adaptive sports like goalball, she was very resistant at first. Finally, in October 1995, while in high school, Lisa attended her first state goalball practice, and it was a pivotal experience for her.

“I had my own assumptions about blind and visually impaired sports,” Lisa recalls. “But when I walked into the goalball gym, my eyes were opened to a whole new world.”

Goalball is a summer Paralympic indoor sport, played exclusively by athletes who are blind or vision impaired. Goalball players wear blackout masks to play and there are tactile lines on the court and the hard rubber ball has four bells in it to help orient the players of the direction of the oncoming ball. The object of the game is to roll the ball into the opposite goal while opposing players try to block the ball with their bodies.

“Goalball scared me at first because I couldn’t use my remaining vision,” Lisa recalls. “But after a few practices and mentorship from other athletes, I began to find that confidence within goalball, and it changed my life and helped me to accept my vision loss.”

Lisa’s dedication and talent quickly caught the attention of national coaches, leading to her recruitment for the national team and a journey that has spanned over two decades, consisting of six Paralympic games, and becoming a five-time Paralympic medalist (one gold, three silvers, and one bronze).

Training for the Paralympics is rigorous, involving multiple weekly sessions on the goalball court, strength and conditioning, and cardio and agility training. Although 2024 has been a challenging year without qualifying for the Paris Games, Lisa remains focused and motivated for the 2028 Paralympics.

“You need to experience challenges and struggles to achieve success,” says Lisa. “Just like vision loss, those challenges are part of what makes you stronger. Don’t let your vision loss be a barrier to anything.”

As a natural ambassador for athletes with disabilities, Lisa continues to advocate for inclusivity and opportunity in sports.

“I feel proud to be a Paralympian and represent Team USA in the Paralympics for so many years,” says Lisa. “It’s an honor that I’m so proud and appreciative of and I strive to have that honor every four years.”

 

To learn more about goalball or other sports for the blind and visually impaired, check out the United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) website.