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Ben Brandt has always loved sports and everything it entails: the competition, goal setting, and camaraderie. Therefore, being cut from the local basketball team was a severe shock.
Although I didn’t realize it at the time, this experience would open the door to new opportunities.
Brandt was a high school student in Glen Ellyn, Illinois, when he was told he couldn’t make the team. Hearing the news, he was sent to a dark place.
His biggest cheerleader, his mother, was in his corner cheering him on.
“She wanted to get me back to what I loved. She always told me that the last two months without sports were when I was the saddest, and just She said she just wanted to make me happy. She knows I love to compete and my parents love to watch us compete and cheer us on. ” said Brandt, who has cerebral palsy. “My mom thought there had to be something for people with disabilities like me, and there was a local organization in northern Illinois that inspired me to get involved in track and field. .”
Brandt combined a new coach with a new phase of competition.
“When I was in junior high school, I did track and field and loved it, but I quit because it interfered with baseball.”
Brandt quickly improved his shot put and discus throws, as well as his track times. He achieved new success in local and regional competitions. These successes began to attract the attention of national Paralympic coaches and organizers.
Success in the field matched success in the classroom. He and his twin brother have deep family ties to many Big Ten schools and decided to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Mr. Brandt will graduate with his bachelor’s degree in December 2023 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in professional accountancy. His older brother is scheduled to graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in construction management. They plan to walk on stage together, but that wasn’t possible in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As a college freshman, Brandt wanted to continue competing even though he was hundreds of miles away from his Illinois coaches. Again with the help of his mother, Blount connected with coaches in Minnesota, Florida and here in Lincoln. They created a weight and training program, which he adheres to every day at campus recreation. His efforts propelled him into international competition.
Brandt has twice competed in the World Ability Sports Games in Portugal in 2022 and Thailand in 2023 as part of the Move United USA delegation. At the Thailand Games in December, he won medals in three events: silver in the javelin throw and 200-meter dash, and bronze in the shot put.
Brandt said she works 15 to 20 hours a week, keeping a tight schedule to fit in 18 hours of training a week on top of her school job and her job as a student manager at Campus Recreation. . But for him, the opportunity to continue training and competing far outweighs the tiring days of starting his day at 5:45 a.m.
“I like competing and being on a team,” he said. “It was a good outlet for me to be able to continue doing that and it was great to be able to build friendships while competing with some of the best players in the world.
“My mental state has definitely improved. And I feel better physically. And best of all, it’s great when I can cheer on my teammates.”
Brandt finds time to attend yoga classes on campus. It’s a habit he picked up during a summer development camp at the Chula Vista Olympic and Paralympic Training Center in California.
“They taught us yoga, which I think is really beneficial,” he said. “I sit up and grab my yoga mat to relax my mind.”
When it comes to staying grounded and controlling his nerves when preparing for a fight, Brandt relies on techniques he learned along the way.
“The coaches at Chula Vista really taught me how to stretch and prepare,” he said. “When I’m waiting my turn at an event, I turn up the beat and listen to it and think about my favorite relaxing places, like my favorite beach I visited with my family.”
Brandt also has long-term plans for success. After receiving his master’s degree, he plans to become a certified public accountant and take over management of the family construction business with his brother. He also believes there are further opportunities in the world of sports. For now, he has his sights set on competing in Paris, France.
“I’m currently training for this summer’s trials for Paris,” he said. “The average age of Paralympic and Olympic shot put and discus athletes is in their 30s, so I feel like I’m not in my prime yet. I told myself, and my parents agreed, that as long as I see improvement, I can train and compete. I plan to continue.
“I love setting goals and being able to see that all the work I put in is working toward something.”
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