My Dad does this with adults running marathons; it's way more involved than just running with someone; the visually impaired person sets the pace so you have to run a marathon while someone else decides how fast to run, while also trying to anticipate their stride a few seconds in advance so you can spot potential hazards then communicate them back to your partner who needs to have absolute trust in you that you are going to keep them from hurting themselves. You essentially end up being a rally car navigator for a person
Plus the need for there to be a physical match is also super crucial and hard to find. Leg/arm length, stride, etc. it's one of the most beautifully cooperative sports out of necessity.
A reminder to all, Summer Paralympics are coming up. They're gonna be awesome. The more folks that tune in and support, the better the games will be and the more security they'll have.
If you're unaware of the history, Netflix has a great doc called Rising Phoenix that gives a small glimpse into the complexity of obstacles the athletes face and the nature of competition in this world. Highly recommend.
The downhill skiing version is similar. The sighted guide has to shout directions to the blind skier as the team goes down the slope. Helmet radios are permitted, which helps when you’re going fast and the wind gets noisy, but if you use a radio, the blind skier looses the ability to orient themselves by which direction the guide’s voice is coming from.
When the younger kid is in ninth grade, he's gonna crush his own competition. That's super impressive what he's doing. The trust between those two must be enormous.
It would take a lot more training to get a dog to follow arbitrary race courses. A human can figure out where they're supposed to turn with minimal guidance.
For most of us who are not disabled it can be difficult to grasp the full extent of how disability can limit the lives of those affected. There are so many things that we take for granted.