Paralympic long jumper Isaac Jean-Paul had one person on his mind when he competed in Paris on Saturday.
“This moment right here was bigger than me,” Jean-Paul, who won a silver medal in the men’s long jump in the T13 classification, told NBC. “This moment was for my grandmother.”
The Illinois-born athlete said that his grandmother died last year, and he came up with a unique way to honor her memory.
“I taped her obituary on my seat. She had the best seat in the house,” he said, displaying a piece of paper with her image that he brought to the event.
As a child, Jean-Paul was diagnosed with juvenile retinoschisis, a condition that affects peripheral and central vision. He previously won a bronze medal in the T13 men’s long jump at the Tokyo Paralympic Games in 2020.
After snagging the silver in Paris, Jean-Paul said he “can’t thank God enough” for being able to share his win with everyone in attendance — and, “most importantly,” his late grandmother.
