KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Paris Olympics just came to an end, but in just a few days, the world can relive all the excitement and spirit with the start of the Paralympics.
Doctors Mark Fisher and Matt McLaughlin are both pediatric physiatrists at Children’s Mercy — the kind of doctors who help children regain functionality after an injury or surgery.
They also play a big role in the Paralympic Games, working as classifiers for sport climbing and cycling.
Both help determine the skill level of athletes to see who they should compete with.
“We believe in participation in sport, but we also believe in competition in sport," said McLaughlin, who is an international classifier for Union Cycliste Internationale.
Their work helps legitimize the competition, which is a necessary step to compete on the highest levels.
It's work that hasn’t gone unnoticed.
Sport climbing, for example, was recently approved to be part of the 2028 Paralympic Games.
“It’s undeniable that the stories behind these athletes are powerful representations of perseverance and determination," said Fisher, head of classification for the International Federation of Sport Climbing.
McLaughlin and Fisher agreed the competition on display in the Paralympics is inspiring.
"The Paralympics are the third most-watched athletic event in the world behind the Olympic Games and the World Cup," McLaughlin said. "And so, if you loved watching the Olympic Games and loved cheering on people in our country, this is something that you need to get behind."
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