LCC student earns Paralympic silver

By Sophia Potter
Editor in Chief

After working tirelessly for years to reach her goals, LCC student – and now Paralympian – Jayci Simon cannot quite describe the feeling of reaching them on a global stage.

“You always dream of what your celebration might look like,” Simon said. “but it's nothing like you ever dream of.”

On Sept. 2 Simon and her mixed doubles partner Miles Krajewski, both 19, made history at the 2024 Paris Paralympics by winning the Silver Medal in Para-Badminton. This is the first medal the U.S. has ever won in badminton.

“That moment displays that something that was once just a dream can become your reality with hard work, dedication and resiliency,” Simon said.

These three traits are what Simon believes have led to her success in Paris, and her intense training regimen tells the same story. Without a formal training facility in the area, Simon trains both at her local church with her parents, and with the MSU Badminton Club – when she is not in class at LCC or working as an optician.

“Badminton and training at this level require more mental strength than physical,” Simon said. “I believe your mentality is what sets you apart at this elite level.”

Simon and partner Krajewski trained together for several months before competing in Paris. The pair have known each other since 2016. They share a similar hope that their victory will raise awareness for the sport they love.

 

LCC student Jayci Simon and partner Miles Krajewski won silver medals.  Photo by Mark Ries?USOPC

“It’s been incredible just knowing that since I started, it wasn’t very popular, and seeing it start to grow was really nice,” Krajewski told the Associated Press after finding out the pair would be competing at the Paralympic level. “If we bring home a medal, hopefully, it will grow at least five times as big.”

Simon and Krajewski competed in the SH6 Classification for Badminton players with short stature. Simon was diagnosed with a rare form of dwarfism called Geleophysic Dysplasia at age 7, and the pair first met at Little People of America sports camp just a few years later.

While her favorite moment in Paris was specifically the last point scored in their semifinals match against Indian mixed doubles team Sivarajan Solaimalai and Nithya Sre Sumathy Sivan, Simon said getting to share the whole experience with her family is what made it so meaningful.

“Seeing them up in the stands jumping up and down, some crying, and some with huge smiles, and hearing the stadium roar is such an exhilarating feeling,” Simon said. “It still feels so surreal.”