US Paralympian Becca Meyers pulls out of Tokyo Games after being denied her own care assistant

Colorado Springs, Colorado - Paralympic swimmer Becca Meyers, a favorite for the gold medal at the upcoming Tokyo Games, was forced to quit the competition due to a shocking decision by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC).

Meyers won three golds and one silver at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
Meyers won three golds and one silver at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.  © Screenshot/Instagram/Becca Meyers

Meyers (26) made the difficult decision this week after her care assistant, who is also her mother, was denied permission to travel with her to Japan for the games.

In an Instagram post, the 26-year-old said she was told "repeatedly that I do not need a Personal Care Assistant (PCA) 'who I trust' because there will be a single PCA on staff that is available to assist me and 33 other Paralympic swimmers, 9 of whom are also visually impaired."

Meyers' deafness is caused by Usher syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that causes hearing loss. She is also legally blind, stemming from a disease called retinitis pigmentosa.

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An already accomplished Paralympian, Meyers has already won three gold medals and one silver during her time swimming at the 2016 summer games in Rio. At the 2012 London games, she won a silver and a bronze. She has also been twice named Best Female Athlete with a Disability in both 2015 and 2017 at the ESPY Awards.

Her mother was allowed to accompany her at "all international meets since 2017," she added.

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Becca Meyers has Usher syndrome and retinitis pigmentosa, which caused her deafness and visual impairment, respectively.
Becca Meyers has Usher syndrome and retinitis pigmentosa, which caused her deafness and visual impairment, respectively.  © Screenshot/Instagram/Becca Meyers

USOPC cited a lack of space for an aide because of "coronavirus restrictions on athletic delegations." There are 34 swimmers slated to travel to Tokyo who are said to have one assistant for support, according to the USOPC. However, Meyers says that about a third of those athletes are visually impaired.

The USOPC hasn’t revealed an exact limit on persons allowed to enter Japan so far.

"I would love to go to Tokyo... This has been very difficult for me. [But] I need to say something to effect change, because this can't go on any longer," Meyers explained in an initial response to the Washington Post.

Cover photo: Screenshot/Instagram/Becca Meyers

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