Paris Olympics-Part 2: Three CODA Athletes
CODA Athletes
"CODA" is an individual with one or both parents who are deaf or hard of hearing.
1. Rower Melvin Twellaar of Netherlands
Deaf Parents:
“Both of my parents are deaf. They attended a boarding school for the hearing impaired where they regularly got to try out all sorts of activities, and rowing was one.” Hello Zuidas
Previous Olympic Experience:
Took the silver medal in the Men’s Double Sculls
Paris Olympics: Biography:
Click TWELLAAR Melvin
Paris Olympics: Result:
Won the gold medal in the Men’s Double Sculls.
2. 3x3 Basketball Player Nauris Miezis of Latvia
Deaf Parents:
“It quickly became apparent that this gangly boy didn’t know how to speak and had never been taught. With his parents both deaf, Miezis' first language was through hand gestures.
He communicated with his parents through sign language, but he was a fish out of water in his first days at school, and his classmates didn't know how to interact with him.”
Previous Olympic Experience:
Nauris and his team won the gold medal in the 3x3 Men’s Basketball at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021
Paris Olympics: Biography:
Click MIEZIS Nauris
Paris Olympics: Result:
His 3x3 team lost the Men’s Bronze Medal game to Lithuania.
3. Shot Putter Leonardo Fabbri of Italy
Deaf Parents:
Father Fabio Fabbri is deaf and was a specialist sprinter and 4x100 runner for the Italian deaf sports federation (FSSI). His personal record in the 100m race was 10.9 seconds.
He then served as a Technical Delegate of FSSI athletics (1994-2001).
Previous Olympic Experience:
Participated in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics in the Shot Put Qualifications.
Paris Olympics: Biography:
Click FABBRI Leonardo
Paris Olympics: Result:
Placed fifth in Men’s Shot Put
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Shot Putter Ryan Crouser of the USA
Ryan Crouser is the first athlete in the history of the Olympics to win the shot put at three straight events.
His late grandfather was late-deafened.
The quote from “Ryan Crouser Shares Heartfelt Tribute to His Grandpa After Winning Gold” reads:
"Crouser's grandfather was deaf in his later years and the pair used to regularly write notes to one another in order to communicate."
Look at the picture above. Ryan held up a piece of paper that said: "Grandpa, we did it, 2020 Olympic Champion."