As Matt Simpson strolls off the goalball court, balls echo throughout the gymnasium. Simpson is sporting a black eye while his teammates continue practicing. The room is chaotic and the energy is high, but the most notable part of this room is that nobody is in it but Team USA Goalball.
For the first time, it’s all theirs.
The United States delegation’s High Performance Center is a state-of-the-art training compound located in the quiet suburb of Eaubonne, 10 miles (15 kilometers) north of Paris.
U.S. Olympic athletes have had access to this type of exclusive facility since 2008. Now, Paralympians do, too.
“I think that (the HPC) is one of the biggest changes I’ve seen,” said Dana Schoenwetter, games operations director at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. “The equity in the support to our Olympians and Paralympians, it’s been great.”
Track and field medalist Jarryd Wallace agreed that having access to the HPC this year is a significant upgrade.
“I think the best …