I come from a family with four brothers and one sister. Growing up as the only child with a disability was very challenging, but I was blessed to have a very supportive family who always encouraged and pushed me to keep going and never give up. The encouragement and support I received as a child helped me become a very independent person today.
Being independent wasn’t enough, though. I wanted to challenge myself to try sports, but that wasn’t possible where I grew up due to a lack of accessibility and adaptive sports—until I moved to Idaho in January 2025.
When I moved to Idaho, I found a community of adaptive athletes who welcomed me with open arms. Basketball had always been my favorite sport, but I never thought I would be able to play on a court, let alone compete with other athletes, until I met my coach.
Playing wheelchair basketball has been a dream come true for me. Even though I have only played for a little over a year, I feel like I’ve been playing for years. I love it!
Teo Contreras
