Ezra Frech's Purpose--Athletic Greatness to Normalize Disability

Key Quotes

"The pressure of being great changes when you’re carrying more than your own ambition. In today’s episode, Ryan sits down with Paralympian Ezra Frech to talk about the discipline required to compete at the highest level and the weight that comes with representing more than just yourself."

This quote introduces the central theme of the podcast episode: the unique pressures faced by elite athletes who also carry the responsibility of representing a larger community. Ezra Frech, as a Paralympian, embodies this dual role, suggesting that his ambition is amplified by the need to represent more than just his personal goals.

"The reality is, at least the way the Paralympics is right now, it's maybe the best comparison the best comparison would be women's sports 20 years ago or 15 years ago where you're not able to make a living just by being good at your sport that's the reality the sports not paying you the sports not paying you just being good at your sport you don't make any money."

Ezra Frech highlights the significant financial challenges faced by Paralympic athletes, comparing their current situation to women's sports in the past. He explains that excelling in the sport alone does not guarantee financial stability, indicating a need for broader support and recognition within the Paralympic movement.

"I feel like in my heart of hearts I was put on this earth to normalize disability to be an example of what is possible as an amputee because the reality is you live with the physical disability life is worse people with physical disabilities are bullied at higher rates have less job opportunities the depression rate is higher less physically active."

Frech articulates his core purpose: to normalize disability and serve as an example for amputees. He points out the systemic disadvantages faced by individuals with physical disabilities, including higher rates of bullying, limited job opportunities, and increased rates of depression, underscoring his mission to challenge these societal norms.

"The fact that I lost that and got a silver and that's what but couldn't it just as easily be the conditions or or that the other person out performed like what so the other person performed really well but had he had the best day of his life and I had to have a really bad day and there's so many you're right there's so many variables involved conditions injuries like a few weeks before the competition I could barely walk but at the end of the day there's no excuses like I showed up next to this dude and he beat me he's the world champion and that eats me alive."

This quote reveals Frech's intense self-accountability and his struggle with losing, even when acknowledging external factors. He expresses frustration with not winning his main event, the high jump, despite acknowledging variables like conditions and opponent performance, indicating a deep-seated drive to overcome any perceived shortcomings.

"Lameness is a disability of the leg but not of the mind and his point was that like it actually doesn't really matter that much that my body is disabled in some way because for the stoics the only thing that mattered was what we think about it and no physical injury to the body affects how we think about it that is still in our control."

This quote introduces the Stoic philosophy, specifically referencing Epictetus, a philosopher who lived with a disability. It highlights the Stoic belief that while physical limitations exist, the mind and one's thoughts about those limitations remain within individual control, suggesting a framework for resilience and internal strength.

"I feel like I put this on myself and so I feel like I've strengthened my shoulders and back enough that I know the weight that I'm carrying I have it on my shoulders and if anything it's like that's sort of the drive behind all of it so even if there is something that maybe to someone else might seem like a negative I haven't even in my head registered that thing as negative because I see it as a part of this larger purpose."

Frech explains his perspective on the "weight" of representing a community, asserting that he has willingly taken on this responsibility. He reframes potential negatives as motivators for his larger purpose, demonstrating a proactive and empowering approach to his role as a public figure and advocate.