Ezra Frech uses his platform to send a message to people with disabilities

PARIS − It’s 2013 and 8-year-old Ezra Frech bounces onto the track, his prosthetic leg kicking up a cloud of sand. The Oklahoma sun beats down on his small frame as his eyes fill with a determination that surpasses his young age.

Frech had grown up playing and following basketball, but this was new. It was his first-ever track and field competition and he had traveled from California to compete against other athletes his age from across the country.

As he lines up for another attempt at the long jump, Frech — filled with adrenaline — takes a deep breath, plants his feet and launches himself into the air. His takeoff was perfect and by the time he landed, he had broken the first of what would be many records to come.

That was the day that would change the course of Ezra and his family’s lives forever as Frech prepares for what he hopes will be another record-breaking outing, this time at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris. Frech comes into the Games as the world record-holder in the high jump, a mark he set at the U.S. track and field trials in July.

Frech broke out as a jumper at the Endeavor Games, one of only a handful of national sporting events for people with disabilities in the USA. Until that point, Frech had played club basketball, but at the Games, he participated in track and field, opening his eyes to new possibilities.

“We had been solving Ezra's access to sport for years, traveling across the state and beyond,” Clayton Frech, Ezra’s father recalled. “But when we went to the Endeavor Games, it was eye-opening. We were the only family from California, and it took a lot of effort and money to get there. That’s when I thought, why don’t we have something like this in Southern California?”

That thought sparked the creation of Angel City Sports, an organization dedicated to providing free training and events for children and adults with disabilities. It started small, but it quickly grew into something much bigger.

“Southern California has the population, the weather and a sports-obsessed culture,” he explained. “We needed to create programs and events to help this community get involved in sport. Angel City Sports was not created for Ezra — it was for the community.”

The first Angel City Games took place in 2015 at UCLA, and since then, it has expanded exponentially.

What began as a single event has grown into more than 200 clinics across 25 sports, serving nearly 1,000 athletes annually.

“It’s incredible to see how far we’ve come,” the elder Frech said. “But it’s not just about the numbers; it’s about the impact. We’re creating community, fostering self-acceptance and empowering dreams.”

Ezra Frech has more than embraced his role in this movement.

“I try to use my platform to be an example for people with disabilities,” he said. “I want to not only normalize disability but show what is possible with disabilities. I want them all to know that sport is possible for them.”

His ascent in the world of para athletics has been nothing short of meteoric. In 2019, he claimed one gold and two bronze medals at the World Para Athletics Junior Championships in the T63 high jump, long jump and 100 meters, respectively, becoming the youngest para athlete at 14 to ever compete in the event. However, at the 2020 Tokyo Games, still a raw talent, he finished fifth in the high jump and eighth in the long jump.

But instead of breaking his spirit, the results fueled his determination.

“I’ve grown a lot,” he reflected. “Tokyo was a real motivating and pivotal moment in my life. It was a point where I recognized that I was capable of becoming the greatest Paralympian of all time. But failure is part of the process, so I use that as motivation.”

Heading into Paris, Frech is fresh off a world record-breaking performance at the U.S. track and field trials in July, where he surpassed his own record in the high jump and set a personal best in the T63 long jump (a classification for athletes with a single-leg amputation above the knee). The always confident 19-year-old is as high on himself as ever as he prepares for both jumping events and the 100 meters in Paris.

“I’m feeling stronger and more focused than ever,” he said. “I know what it takes now and I’m ready to give it everything I’ve got.”

But Frech is not just competing; he’s raising awareness about the challenges faced by athletes with disabilities and advocating for increased accessibility and support.

“People often think I’m putting too much pressure on Ezra,” Clayton Frech shared. “But the truth is, I’m the one trying to throttle him back. He’s incredibly ambitious, and it’s not about me setting goals for him. He sets his own goals, and they’re big. But that’s who he is driven, focused and determined to make a difference.”

However, starting and sustaining an adaptive sports organization in the United States isn’t easy as Clayton Frech can attest.

“The awareness of adaptive sports and the Paralympic movement is still very low,” he explained. “Many people with disabilities don’t even know that sports are possible for them. And funding is a constant struggle. We’re one of the bigger organizations in the country, but we’re still not where we need to be in terms of sustainability.”

Despite these challenges, the impact of Angel City Sports is undeniable.

“When we deliver a great event or clinic, and we connect athletes — especially new athletes — to the community, it changes lives,” Clayton Frech said. “It’s not just about the sport; it’s about creating a sense of belonging, self-confidence and empowerment. We’re showing people that what they thought was impossible is actually possible.”

Frech plans to show off what is possible for him in Paris, but he also has an eye on 2028.

“The future of our sport is in good hands,” Ezra Frech said. “We’re seeing the way the Paralympics are growing exponentially, so I think Paris is going to be a stepping point for LA in 2028. When the Games come to our country and my home city, I look forward to putting on a great performance and bringing the Paralympics into a whole new light.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ezra Frech enters Paralympics as world record holder in high jump