‘I’ve always wanted to make the Paralympics’

SIOUX FALLS, S.D (KELO) — A Yankton High School athlete is getting ready for possibly the biggest competition of his life. Miles Krajewski is heading overseas to play in the Paralympics.

Since he was seven, Miles Krajewski has had a passion for badminton…

“I’ve always wanted to make the Paralympics and being a dwarf there aren’t very many sports in the Paralympics that I would be able to qualify in… So I had tried badminton when I was seven. And ever since then I fell in love with the sport and started training have gone to where I am now,” said Miles Krajewski, Paralympic athlete.

The 18-year-old has competed in badminton tournaments in 18 countries. Now, he’ll add a new country to that list. He will be competing in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.

“I love the competition and just how fast a sport is. It’s pretty interesting, and knowing that it’s the fastest rec sport in the world and that I am playing. It’s kind of crazy that I’ve gone from just a little seven-year-old playing into being 18 and playing on the world stage,” Krajewski said.

He’ll train throughout the summer leading up to the games this August.

“During training, I think I’ll be pretty focused and intense. So I won’t be focused on the nerves. It’s more training, training training,” Krajewski said.

Krajewski says none of this would be possible without the overwhelming amount of support…

“There’s been so much support behind me through my community that pushed me to help me qualify,” Krajewski said.

Now, as he prepares to represent South Dakota on the worldwide stage, he’s hoping for his biggest win yet.

Krajewski will compete in men’s singles and mixed doubles with a partner. The games go from August 29th to September 2nd.

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