With effort, the sky's the limit, says space-bound Paralympian

PARIS — Paralympic bronze medalist John McFall is keen to show how elite competitors can go on to break through ever more formidable barriers, and that it's possible to reach for the stars, whatever the circumstances.

He is a case in point, literally, as this week, the Briton became the first person with a physical disability to be effectively cleared for future missions by the European Space Agency.

The 43-year-old surgeon, who medaled in the 100m at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, is now in France to back the current crop of British athletes at the Paris Games.

"I think sport has been a hugely powerful vehicle for making people appreciate what anybody is capable of. But, now that we have Paralympic sport on the radar much more, it's a really, really powerful platform to show what people with physical disabilities are capable of," he said in an interview.

McFall was visiting Thailand at the age of 19 when a motorcycle accident led to the amputation of his right leg above the knee and ended his hopes of a career in the army.

"I went through some dark times during those early days, but largely frustration, because I needed something to quench that appetite I had for challenge and achieving. And for me, the natural choice was sport.

"Challenging myself physically, I got reward from that, and that really was a very powerful vehicle for my rehabilitation," he told reporters.

"In the eight years that it took me from losing my leg to competing in Beijing, I learned a huge amount about myself — perhaps most importantly that, if I put the effort in, I can achieve whatever I want."

Now he is moving on to his next big challenge.

Three years ago, a colleague sent him an advert for would-be astronauts, including someone to take part in a European study on whether a person with a physical disability could become a full crew member on the International Space Station.

"I thought it sounded like such a tremendously interesting and exciting opportunity, not just from a personal point of view, but also from a sociological point of view. It was very interesting what the European Space Agency was proposing to do and to challenge," he said.

Last month, McFall was declared on track to becoming the world's first "parastronaut" after passing months of rigorous testing on his ability to carry out emergency procedures in orbit, and the way he would move and stabilize himself in microgravity.

Studies included the impact on bone density and the way fluid shifts around the body in microgravity, potentially affecting the fit of the prosthesis that he would wear on the ISS.

He has yet to be guaranteed a specific flight, but the ESA said in July that the study, which is due to be completed later this year, had demonstrated that it would be technically feasible for an astronaut with a physical disability like McFall's to travel to space.

Although the ESA has officially used the term "parastronaut" the moniker is not one that McFall himself encourages.

If approved for a mission to the International Space Station, he will carry out his duties just like any other crew member — in the same way that he is a normal medic or father, rather than a "para-surgeon or paradad," he said.

McFall hopes his experience, and that of the 4,000 athletes competing at this week's Paralympics, will send an encouraging message to others facing any kind of life-altering circumstances.

"What I would say to people who have any kind of trauma like this, or have a life-changing event like this, is whatever it may be, find something that you are passionate about, because that's what's going to give you the reward, and that's what's going to help you to re-establish that sense of self," he said.

"I am but one person. You're about to see hundreds of them competing at the highest level in the next couple of weeks."

Reuters