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Arambula Accomplished One Goal, Now Eyes Another Gold Medal

By NWBA, Taylor Bond , 08/18/17, 4:45PM CDT

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At the age of 13, Jared Arambula was an avid member of the Turnstone Flyers. The Turnstone Adaptive Sports Program was one step in Arambula’s journey to becoming a Paralympic athlete and gold medalist. He is one of just 10 gold-level participants in the Paralympic Sport Club Excellence Program in the United States, and it all started at Turnstone Flyers. Turnstone Flyers is a club which helps people with disabilities live an active lifestyle and participate in sports. He was born with spina bifida and confined to a wheelchair.

Moving out of the Junior program, Arambula played at the University of Alabama where he helped Alabama to a national championship as co-captain of the 2013 team. His senior year he averaged a triple-double (more than 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists per game). He was awarded the Performance Award three different times throughout his collegiate career. After college, he took his career overseas to play for an Italian league considered one of the best leagues in the world. It was in Europe that he realized his potential to make the U.S. Men’s National Team, and wanted to be viewed as a true contender for a Rio Paralympic gold medal. Goal for gold was a success.

After his assistance in the 2015 Parapan American Games, where the United States won gold, Arambula solidified his position on Team USA. At the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, Arambula, and the rest of Team USA, went on to win gold with an impressive undefeated record of 8-0.

“It’s obviously been an uphill battle forever,” Arambula said, “As a child, I just wanted to compete with my friends. Being on the Paralympic team really solidified it for me. It hit me that we train at the same level as everyone else and we are seen as true athletes,” added Arambula.

Arambula has his sights set on the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games and another gold-medal finish for Team USA.