Shriners Children’s Spokane Patient Lauren Fields Qualifies for Paris Paralympics
An 18-year-old from Spokane Valley is heading to Paris to compete in her first-ever Paralympic Games in wheelchair racing.
Lauren Fields was born with cerebral palsy and received care at both Shriners Children’s Portland and Shriners Children’s Spokane throughout her childhood. She said she learned from an early age to not let her physical differences stop her from achieving her dreams.
“I remember telling my surgeon at Shriners Children’s, Dr. Glen Baird, that I wanted to compete in the Paralympics one day, and he took it very seriously,” Fields said. “From then on, sports became a big focus for me. I would talk to my care team at Shriners when I was having issues with my wheelchair or figuring out how to make it so my body could tolerate the level of physical activity I was working at. In the sport of track and field, there is no off-season, you’re training year-round so it is a major adjustment for your body. So it was amazing to have Shriners Children’s there as a resource for me when I was trying to work through challenges and keep pushing myself.”
Fields described the Paralympic Trials as a mix of fun, relaxation and stress. She knew she needed to hit a personal best to qualify for the team, and she did just that, moving her coach to tears upon hearing that she’d made the U.S. Paralympic team. Fields will compete in the 100-meter and 800-meter races in Paris.
I remember telling my surgeon at Shriners Children’s, Dr. Glen Baird, that I wanted to compete in the Paralympics one day, and he took it very seriously. From then on, sports became a big focus for me.
After Paris, Fields will head to the University of Illinois to join the legendary Illinois wheelchair racing team, which has won 55 medals in the Paralympics over the last four Games. Fields knows she’s now helping pave the way for other young athletes to follow.
“I think the biggest piece of advice I would give to anyone going through physical challenges is not to give up,” Fields said. “My journey with track has led me to Paris, where I’m focused on doing my best and hoping to earn a spot on the podium. There were obviously times when there were challenges or something was difficult. I didn’t think it was possible to even stay in my lane when I first started in track. Don’t give up on yourself. You never know what’s waiting on the other side.”
Highlighting the region’s aptitude for wheelchair racing, former Shriners Children’s Spokane patients and members of the ParaSport Spokane program Susannah Scaroni and Hannah Dederick will also be competing in the Paralympics.
