Amaris Vazquez has trained for years for one lifelong goal: to make the Paralympics for the Paris 2024 games.

“I always wanted to make it to a high level and knew that was my dream. I seriously started training for it around three years ago when I realized I had an actual chance at making it,” Vazquez said, who is a graduate of the class of 2023.

Born with a birth defect called clubfoot, the doctors decided the best case scenario was to amputate Vazquez’s leg leaving her with a prosthetic.

Vazquez started her journey when she was 8 years old when she joined DASA (Disabled Sports Association). She has competed in many sports like swim and cycling, but track and field has been her niche.

Vazquez decided to represent Puerto Rico for the Paralympic Games as she was born there and her family lives there. She moved from Puerto Rico when she was two for better healthcare opportunities. Her parents knew she needed a good place to get a prosthetic as well as a place for better opportunities. Even though she was raised in Missouri, she felt the ultimate decision to represent her home country.

“I always thought I would represent the USA. I didn’t even know I had the option to represent Puerto Rico. When they reached out and my parents had a conversation with me on what I wanted to do I quickly realized I wanted to represent my island,” Vazquez said.

Vanquez joined the Puerto Rico team for track and field her senior year of high school, which would result in small challenges that year.

“I joined the Puerto Rico team at the beginning of my senior year so I did have to miss, sometimes, up to two weeks of school due to competing around the world. All of my teachers were the most supportive and understanding they could be. When I would come back they would help me get caught up and ask me how everything went,” Vazquez said. “When I joined the Puerto Rico team a couple years ago, I also started training with a personal coach and we started training like never before.”

Coach and social studies teacher Jeremy Tutterrow was one of Vazquez’s biggest inspirations in high school.

“I was thrilled to find out she had accomplished her goal. She had such a strong singular mindset on making the Paralympics. Anyone who was watching her work towards the goal and her passion towards it couldn’t help but root for her. One of Amaris’ biggest assets is her drive. What she wants, she’s going to get,” Tutterrow said.

Ellie Ulsas was her jumps coach at LHS. “I’d say most of my support just came in the form of encouragement. Us track coaches knew Amaris was very driven and determined to jump in the paralympics, so we did whatever we could to help her achieve that goal,” Ulsas said.

When Vazquez found out she made the Paralympics, she almost couldn’t believe it.

“The feeling was surreal. I was in shock when I got that phone call telling me I made it. My whole family cried and I was just so happy. Little me was screaming inside. I was proud of myself and just felt like I had finally made it,” Vazquez said.

She even got chosen as the flag bearer for Puerto Rico which is a huge honor.

“The paralympic committee for Puerto Rico decided that I was the best choice to carry that flag high. These were my first games and I had worked hard for my spot. My hard work did not go unnoticed and they wanted to celebrate that,” Vazquez said.

Vazquez, however, has faced many challenges through the years.

“Challenges come along the way with any athlete I faced injuries that set me back, starting college away from my coach set me back, I also was trying to figure out new prosthetic legs and how they worked best for me. The Paralympics is a long journey and you face more challenges than benefits but it’s how you bounce back that is the most important part,” Vazquez said.

But with challenges, there are benefits that come with it.

“I got to experience so much through this journey. I was able to travel all around the world to qualify for these games which was incredible. I also have grown mentally, you have to be mentally strong to train and compete at this level. I have grown as a person,” Vazquez said.

Vazquez loved the experience of going to the paralympics as it wasn’t her first time going to Paris.

“This was my second time going to Paris and honestly they killed it for these Paralympics. The fans and the stadium were incredible my first day competing, walking out to 80,000 people cheering and screaming for you is a feeling that is unmatched,” Vazquez said. “I do plan on going to LA28. These games were only the beginning and definitely continuing this journey of working hard and getting better.”

Vazquez ended up going to the Paralympics for three events: the 100 meters, 200 meters, and long jump. She was one of two athletes to participate from Puerto Rico.

“You can do whatever you set your mind to do, don’t let anyone stop you,” Vazquez said.