Lewis aims to inspire next generation
Jessica Lewis is proud to be a “trailblazer” for Bermuda and hopes to inspire the island’s next generation of para athletes.
The wheelchair sprinter enjoyed a superb 2019, winning three of her events at the Parapan American Games in Lima, Peru, claiming gold in the T53 100 and 400 metres, and silver in the 800 in August.
She also blitzed her previous 100 record time of 17.67sec, set in Toronto four years ago, crossing the line in 17.36.
The Bermudian also finished just shy of the podium after crossing the line in the T53 in fourth at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai in November.
“I’m just so glad that I’m able to represent Bermuda,” Lewis told the World Para Athletics website.
I am with my coach and my mom who is also the team manager, so it’s a really small team. It’s amazing to have their support,” said Lewis.
“It has been absolutely incredible to travel a lot because of this sport, see the world is also incredible.
“To be able to be kind of a trailblazer for such a small country and hopefully inspire other people to get in love with the sport means a lot to me.”
Lewis, who has been Bermuda’s sole representative at the World Para Athletics Championships and Paralympic Games and since 2011, was joined by local boccia players Yushae Desilva, Omar Hayward and Steve Wilson at the Parapan American Games in Lima.
“Three Boccia players were in Lima, unfortunately, they weren’t at this competition, because obviously is a different discipline,” Lewis added. “I really hope that in the future we will have more racers representing Bermuda.”
Lewis has turned her attention to competing in her third Paralympic Games in Tokyo this summer.