Elite Level Community

For Lex Gillette, seeing is not always believing.

Interview with Lex Gillette at the dawn of the 2010 Track & Field season.

Where do you come from and what was life like growing up?

In Raleigh North Carolina, before I began to lose my sight, life was like any other kid’s life. I rode my bike, knocked on people’s doors and ran, roller skated, played with water guns, played video games, etc. Let me tell you, it was the life and I never imagined anything
changing. The day would come when I started losing my sight, my life eventually became one of shadowy darkness filled with the occasional glimpse of light. I was then forced to learn how to read braille, I could no longer read print anymore. My mom stayed on me though, and told me that I may be blind, but no one in the world would have pity on me just because of that. She then taught me to take care of myself teaching me how to cook, wash my clothes, wash dishes, iron my clothes, vacuum, and whatever else I needed to do to be able to survive on my own. By the time I was thirteen/fourteen, I could handle things on my own. I thought my mom was being tough on me initially, but looking back now, it was the best thing she could have ever done to help me.

How did you get into your sport?

Brian Whitmer, my high school VI (Visually Impaired) classroom teacher asked me if I wanted to attend a sports camp for visually impaired athletes held in Kalamazoo, MI. I agreed and I tried running long jump for the first time there. I was always a good jumper, I could be all of my sighted friends in standing long jump, but when Whitmer asked me to try running long jump, it was difficult because I had to actually run and then jump instead of standing in one place and jumping. I did pretty well at the camp, we came back to North
Carolina, and I joined my high school track team. The rest is history.

Were you always as motivated as you are now; If not what made you change?

I was not this motivated growing up. I have always been a hardworker, but when I started to lose my vision, it took something awayfrom me, something that seemed to have me trapped in a world of myown. It was one of the toughest things to experience, and once I lost
my sight, I lost my motivation and confidence along with it. Many days I spent holding my head down not knowing if I would ever be able to conquer something of this magnitude, but my mother instilled in methe things that would turn my life around and allow me to be as
successful as I am today.

Besides not seeing, how has losing your vision changed things for you?

Actually, losing my vision seemed to change a lot for me initially,but once I got the hang of it, it didn’t even matter anymore. Ofcourse I can’t see, but I have a remarkable imagination, and it’s sobeautiful to “see” the world without seeing it physically. It’s akward not being able to see people anymore, but since I actually had a chance to see the world before, those memories are still fresh in my mind, and when I listen to others talk, I constantly go back and thinkin my mind of what different things used to look like. It’s like a dream that never fades away.

Explain what it was like walking in the arena in Beijing and hearing everything but not seeing anything?

It was the best experience ever. To take in all of the sounds, all of the cheers, all of the boos, all of the excitement, it’s fantastic. That’s when my imagination comes into play. I walk in to the Olympic stadium and you hear nothing but peopl yelling, hands are clapping, shrill whistles could be heard, and you can do nothing but smile and take in the atmosphere. There’s nothing like it.

How did you and your guide, Wes WIlliams meet?

Wes was actually brought in by a guide runner who was already on staff, so he was refered to the USOC. We met for the first time at a sports camp held at the Olympic training center in Chula Vista, CA.

Was trust instant with your guide?

Not instant, but once I ran with him and we got to know each other, things were easier. For me, I need to work out with the guide runner for a few sessions to learn their body language, how they communicate. This helps in the 100m and 200m because a lot of the times I
understand their body and mine, this helps so we’ll be on the same page in running. If we can run in stride, it makes the race a lot smoother. Once I knew he was a good communicator, we were able to instantly do great things on the long/tripple jump runway.

Do you and your guide, Wes have any similarities outside of track? Does that play a role when you are on the track?

What keeps our relationship on the track fluent is our interaction off of the track. He’s my suite mate so we’re constantly talking whether it be about track and field, music life, anything. We’re constantly communicating, and I think that it has a big impact on what we do on the track.

Most athletes see themselves at practice every day and know what a perfect jump looks like then before a competition they visualize themselves making that perfect jump. Since you can’t see what a perfect jump looks like, is your visualization process any different than a seeing athlete?

Imagery is huge. I picture myself having a perfect jump every single time I step on the runway. A perfect jump for me feels like no other. I run and hit the board taking off at a 45 degree angle into the air, lift my legs up for extension, and as I feel gravity pulling me down,
I brace myself for the smooth landing into the sand. For me, that’s what perfection feels like.

What is the scariest part about being a blind athlete?

The scariest by far is the sound of different stadiums. When there’s an echo, it’s really tough to pinpoint Wes’ call for me on the runway. In these situations, I have to concentrate really hard in order to gage where he is so I can run full speed and hope to end up where he
is. Sometimes the sound travels to the side and creates difficulties, but again, this is just another part of the game and I have to be prepared for it.

What specific moment inspired you to be a professional athlete?

I knew I wanted to pursue athletics professionally after I took my first competitive jump, and my coach brian Whitmer, told me about how I could potentially travel to different countries and compete against people from all over the world for big money, LOL.

Who has most shaped who you’ve become today?
God and my mom have shaped and helped me in everything in my life.

After athletics, what are your personal goals?

I want to continue to be a motivational/public speaker. I also have a dream of being a musical star. I like singing and playing my keyboard and have recorded a few songs. I would also like to have my own non-profit organization to help in finding more visually impaired
athletes, to help the visually impaired population as a whole, maybe through mentoring, athletics, etc. I want to pass the knowledge that I have to anybody it will help and improve in his/her life.

Not everyone knows about the Paralympics, how do you feel about that
and how do you want to change that?

It hurts sometimes because as a Paralympic athlete, we’re doing the same thing as anybody else in track and field, but the recognition isn’t there. In turn, this just creates an opportunity for me to try and do what I can to create more exposure, to show the world the
Paralympic realm of the USOC. I think this can be accomplished by doing more community service such as speaking engagements, appearances, etc.

What is your dream in 5 words?

BEING THE BEST AT ANYTHING

What is your favorite track memory?

In Athens, Greece, September 2004, I was a 19 year old sophomore in college.. It was my first time flying across the ocean. I entered the Olympic stadium not knowing what to expect. I competed to the best of my ability, and made my way to the podium for the first time in my career winning a silver medal at the games. My family joined me along with my coach Brian Whitmer and his wife. It was a memory I’ll never forget.

Has there been one person that has been there with you through it all?

My mom has been there with me through all of the ups and the downs in
my life. I love you Mom!

Besides winning, what are you hoping you can do with your track career?
(for example motivating others, giving hope to blind kids etc.)

I think it would be great to try and continue to be a motivational speaker once track and field is complete. More importantly, it’s important to try and find more and more athletes to keep the sport going. I want to be the best at my event, but I also would like to find future athletes who are visually impaired that can continue the tradition of winning in my event and other events in track and field.

Interviewed by Elee McCarthy, Elite Level Marketing.

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