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The Documentary: Lex Gillette: A leap in the dark

Elexis Gillette

20/07/2021 GMT

Lex Gillette: A leap in the dark

BBC World Service - The Documentary, Lex Gillette: A leap in the dark

Paralympian Lex Gillette and guide coach Wesley go for Gold in 2021

Paralympian Lex Gillette and guide coach Wesley go for Gold in 2021.

Lex Gillette was seven years old when his eyes stopped working. At first, things were a little blurry, a little distorted. Then, after 10 operations to treat the retinas that kept detaching in both his right and his left, he saw nothing but darkness.

But that did not stop him: Lex learned to ride a bike. He learned to run around. And eventually, he learned to to jump - jump farther than any other blind person in the world. Lex Gillette - world record long jumper, four time Paralympic medal winner - is on his way to Tokyo in 2021 to get the gold medal he has wanted since he was a child.

The other half of the Lex Gillette Paralympic success story is his guide coach, Wesley Williams. He and Lex have trained and competed together for 14 years. Tokyo will be their third Games together. As Lex begins his approach, running the 16 steps towards the take-off point, amidst all the sound of stadium, Wesley will make as much noise as he can - clapping and shouting in the way they have practised over and over again - keeping Lex on target to jump from the right spot and fly as far as he can. Further than any blind man in history. So far, that’s 6.73 metres. 

The key to their success is the record of their relationship. They share vulnerabilities in order to develop strength, they are humble in order to hear, and they have a clear, shared vision that becomes phenomenal success.

(Photo: Elexis Gillette of the United States competes the Men's Long Jump T11 Final, Paralympics Athletics Grand Prix, Rio 2016 Olympics. Credit: Buda Mendes/Getty Images)

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