Gunter Qualifies For Paralympic Games

 
POCATELLO, Idaho- Tyson Gunter has always had a goal of competing in front of 80,000 plus fans at a track and field event. The former Bengal track and field athlete is about to get his wish. Gunter qualified for Team USA in the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janiero that begin Sept. 7. Gunter will compete in the 100 meter and 400m sprints.

Gunter is considered legally blind but has competed in track and field since he was eight years old. Jumping events was always his specialty, until this year.

"My vision is small, compact and flat," Gunter said. "The best way to describe it is looking through binoculars backwards."

Upon finishing his eligibility at ISU, Gunter first learned of the opportunity to compete in the Paralympic games in March of 2013. He competed in his first event in May and by July he was in France at the Paralympic World Championships where he won silver in the high jump and also competed in the long jump.

"It was cool," Gunter said on his first experience with World competition. "I was thinking to myself, 'Do I really deserve to be here?' It was hard to comprehend."

Gunter competed in the World Championships in Qatar in 2015 but that year was a different feeling for him and many other jumpers.

"We knew that in the beginning of 2015 that jumps were not going to be a part of the Paralympics," Gunter said. "They wouldn't say why. A lot of people pulled out from the jumps because they knew it wouldn't be at Rio."

In 2015 he finished fifth in the long jump but earlier in the year he did win silver in the Pan American games. 

Gunter returned home in October of 2015 from Qatar. After two months, Gunter set his sights on Rio in January 2016. His focus for the first time in his track and field career would be in the 100m and 400m sprints.

"It's cool," Gunter said. "I have mixed emotions because I wish I was jumping but it is a blessing to change events and still make the team. I have been lucky because there are a lot of good jumpers who are sitting home this year."

Gunter said Team USA was granted 43 slots for the men and the results of Gunter's Paralympic Trials in Charlotte last week earned him a spot on the team.

Gunter, who is sponsored by Dicks Sporting Goods and its Contender Program, nearly didn't give himself the opportunity to compete for the Paralympics once he learned that the jumps were not going to be offered in Rio.

"I considered retiring," he said. "My wife, Makenzie, who was also on the ISU track team was a big motivating factor in me continuing my efforts. Dave Nielsen has put a lot of time into coaching me and I thought it would be a nice thank you to give back to him."

The opportunity for Gunter to compete on the Paralympic stage while wearing the red, white and blue is exciting.

"Because of the exposure and the stage of the Paralympic games this will have a different feel," Gunter said. "I am looking forward to the opportunity."

Gunter said he is still working on the details on who would be in Rio with him.

"I am trying to figure that out right now," he said. "It is an expensive little adventure."

As Gunter continues his preparation for Rio he is grateful for the opportunity he had to work with other Bengal athletes who were Olympic hopefuls.

Erica Richardson competed in the Olympic trials in the 3000m steeplechase on July 4 while Mike Arnold, Sam Pierson and Levi Keller competed in the pole vault.

"It really helped training around other athletes who were my teammates in Levi, Mike, Sam and Erica," Gunter said.

Pierson was the lone Bengal who was able to advance to the finals as he had a jump of 5.50m.  He was unable to earn a spot in Rio in the finals.

Gunter and his wife now work for a sports training facility in Spanish Fork, Utah, and has preparations for Rio near he is grateful for the opportunities he has had to compete in various countries around the world.

"It has been a great experience traveling," Gunter said. "From traveling to France to the Middle East I have enjoyed the experience."

Although competing in the running events was never the way Gunter imagined he would get to the Paralympic games, he is excited about making the dream of competing in front of a large audience a reality.