PARIS — The journey to the Paralympics has been quite an adventure for American para badminton athletes Jayci Simon and Miles Krajewski.

They faced significant travel challenges, starting with a delay in Atlanta caused by mechanical problems, which led to a chaotic travel experience. The issues continued in Paris, with match schedules also changing — one of their semifinal matches didn’t begin until 10 p.m. Paris time on Saturday, adding to the tournament’s intensity.

Over three days, they played in six matches, but the seventh is unforgettable for them.

Simon and Krajewski successfully overcame the challenging schedule to secure a silver medal in the mixed doubles SH6 category, competing against China’s Naili Lin and Fengmei Li, and losing 0-2. This medal marks a historic achievement as it is the first for the United States and the entire Pan American region in para badminton since the sport was incorporated into the Paralympics in 2020, a discipline that has typically seen athletes from Asia excel.

“Nobody expected us to arrive and win a silver medal or even reach the finals, but we always believed we had a chance to win it all,” Krajewski commented. “We came here, gave it our all, and ended up in the finals.”

Adapting to challenges became the athletes’ guiding principle throughout the SH6 tournament. Even when they faced tough opponents like Lin and Li, ranked No. 5 in the world, they managed to keep their spirits up.

Lin and Li displayed impressive skill, taking an early lead of eight points and ultimately winning the first set 21-14, followed by another win in the second set with a score of 21-12.

Despite the pressure of facing such strong opponents, the American pair felt no stress.

“We were aware we were the underdogs, and our initial goal was simply to get past the group stage, which we achieved, followed by reaching the gold medal match,” Simon explained. “By accomplishing those objectives, we felt relaxed and could focus on giving our best effort.”

Now, at just 19 years old, the duo aspires for this silver medal to open doors for them in future Paralympic competitions. However, they also plan to take some time to celebrate and recuperate before focusing on upcoming events.

Simon and Krajewski mentioned that their next few months will be somewhat calmer as they return to college as Paralympic medalists.

“Very few reach this level, let alone the gold medal match,” Simon remarked. “Even though it has been in our thoughts, the reality is even more incredible than we ever imagined.”

Promoting the Sport in the U.S.

Badminton, especially in its Paralympic form, isn’t very popular in the United States. Simon and Krajewski are hopeful that their achievement on Monday will help change this perception.

Abhishek Ahlawat, a member of the U.S. para badminton coaching team, trains at the Frisco Badminton Academy in Texas, where the duo practices. Ahlawat shares the vision of expanding the sport, believing that this medal will be beneficial in achieving that.

“I hope this achievement leads to increased funding for us and helps grow the sport,” Simon stated. “This growth should benefit not only para badminton but able-bodied badminton as well.”