‘All of it circles back to Tokyo’: Spokane athlete with cerebral palsy trains for Paralympic Games – KREM.com

SPOKANE, Wash. Its crunch time for a Spokane track athlete, who is just six months away from competing in qualifying trials for the Paralympic Games.

Jaleen Roberts is currently ranked No. 2 in the world for long jump. She is training six days a week as a sprinter and long jumper at a track in Spokane Valley with her coach David Greig.

Although she was born with cerebral palsy, her disability never stops her from pursuing athletics. Roberts intense regimen keeps the 21-year-old determined and focused on her ultimate goal of competing at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, this summer.

Somedays I am so tired and do not want to go to the gym, but I know that I have to because all of it circles back to Tokyo, Roberts said.

When I watched her compete for the first time, I immediately called the head coach of the national team and said we got something here, Greig said.

Roberts is currently the longest jumper with her disability in history.

She is probably the highest profile cerebral palsy athlete in the country, Greig added.

The Kent, Washington native has played sports for as long as she can remember. She loved soccer, wrestling, gymnastics and track, always competing with her able-bodied classmates.

My mom never really let my disability define me. With me, it was never really you cant do it, Roberts said.

Becoming an elite athlete was never Roberts' dream.

It highlighted the part of me that I always wanted people to see as able. It was not normal for me to compete with people like me even though it should feel normal, she said.

Her high school coaches repeatedly pushed her to run in a race against other disabled athletes, but she refused. She finally made an emotional leap of faith and jumped out of her comfort zone.

Lots of tears and a lot of thinking about it. It just gives me something to do that I am really passionate about, Roberts said. It honestly saved me in a way. It helped me to find my purpose.

I wouldnt have gotten a chance to meet if people didnt believe in me and push itthey could have said no and gave up on me, she added.

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Her coach, David Greig, never gave up on her either. Roberts moved to Spokane in the summer of 2018 to train full time.

In just one year, she piled up gold, silver and bronze medals after competing around the world.

It was definitely a process getting into the mindset of, Oh you are training for the Paralympic Games, she said.

Its the first time in history both Olympic and Paralympic athletes will be paid the same amount of money for medals. She says this step is a great way for people to understand the difference between the disabilities tied to the Paralympic Games and Special Olympics.

People dont realize that Paralympics are physical disabilities and Special Olympics is developmental. While they are both great, they are not the same, she said.

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You can recognize Roberts by her signature look.

Ive always worn my hair in a bun, she said during her interview, with her hair styled in a tight bun on the top of her head.

Her tagline Fear the Bun instantly took off especially as a way for fellow athletes to show support. The unique hairstyle is also a great way to spot Roberts as she crosses the finish line.

Roberts still needs to officially qualify for the 2020 Paralympic Games this summer by competing in trails this June.

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'All of it circles back to Tokyo': Spokane athlete with cerebral palsy trains for Paralympic Games - KREM.com