MAKERS@ Community Conversation with Tatyana McFadden and Julie Fink

Tatyana McFadden, Paralympic gold medalist and activist, sits down with Julie Fink, Managing Partner at Kaplan Hecker & Fink LLP, to discuss McFadden's path to the Paralympics, her work with Angel City Sports, and the future of inclusive athletics.

Video transcript

JULIE FINK: Tatyana, it is such an honor to get to talk to you today. For those of you who haven't had a chance to see it, I would fully recommend that you watch the full documentary. It's a really powerful story about diversity and excellence and grit. And Tatyana is not only one of the stars in it, but she's also an Emmy winning producer. And so just to start off, tell us what inspired you to make this film?

TATYANA MCFADDEN: Well, it's about the power of storytelling. Our stories are everything. They make the lessons of our lives come alive, they help us learn about the world, provide inspiration, demonstrate passion. And it's often can offer a call to action. And so "Rising Phoenix" is just such a wonderful example of storytelling at its best.

It profiles nine amazing athletes from around the world. This Netflix film brings the story of the Paralympic movement to everyone. And it tells the story of individual struggle and determination, and it gives us a view of the challenges with people with disabilities that we face around the world. It also tells a story of hope and achievement. And in doing so, it's helping to create an even playing field for all citizens of the world.

So story telling is what makes this possible and it was very important for me to be part of this project, and to talk about disability and to talk about sports and how it's a movement that is done together. And I really do believe the power of sports can lead to equality in everything. And this includes, for the lives of people with disabilities. So the international impact of "Rising Phoenix" cannot be overstated.

This film has been viewed in 190 countries, translated in 28 languages, and the viewership is over a million. And so is "Rising Phoenix" an absolute game changer? Absolutely. And this is why I really wanted to become part of the film and the producer of it. Because I wanted to be part of that change and I wanted for people's stories to be heard.

JULIE FINK: It's an incredible film and really important stories. I think the part or part of your story that isn't included in the clip we just saw is some of your background and your story, and how you got started on the path to becoming one of the fastest women in the world.

TATYANA MCFADDEN: Yes. I did not have a typical talent growing up. I grew up in an orphanage for the first six years of my life, being born was spina bifida at the time of '89, fall of communism was happening. And so the rights for people with disabilities did not even exist. And so for a child to be born with a disability, my chances of survival was very, very slim.

And I hadn't received surgery until 21 days after birth. And shortly after that, I was put into an orphanage right after surgery. So it was a miracle that I stayed alive during those 21 days. And growing up in the orphanage, I didn't have any medical treatment, I didn't have a wheelchair, I didn't have any doctors appointments, those first six months of checkup didn't even exist.

[? During ?] the first year or two didn't even exist and in the orphanage how I got around was I [? screwed ?] on the floor, I walked on my hands. People to this day still believe I got all my strength from doing that for the first six years of my life. But for me, it was just the way life. I don't think they know any better. And my life completely changed when I was adopted by my wonderful moms, and coming to the US a lot of first things happened.

Going to school for the first time. I had several surgeries. I had about 10 to 12 surgeries because my legs were atrophied behind my back. Because I was so sick and so anemic, my parents thought, well, what's a great way to get a child healthy. And that's throwing them into sports. You know, they can gain the confidence and they can really build muscle and become active.

And then through that local sports program in Baltimore, I just fell in love with wheelchair racing. After had I tried several sports. I tried wheelchair basketball, ice hockey, downhill skiing, swimming and table tennis, and fencing, and I was like, wheelchair racing is for me. I didn't know who was the need of speed as a young child but it was something that I really just took to and I wanted to get better.

And by the time I was 14, leading up to the games in 2004 in Athens, I became obsessed with wheelchair racing at that point, and I told my parents, I said, I want to make it to the Olympics. And I say the Olympics at the time because Paralympics wasn't promoted in media. I wasn't in the newspapers, and it wasn't on TV and no one talked about it.

No one really knew what it was, and so I thought oh, we'd all go to the Olympics if we're really amazing and we had this big dream. So we found out where the Paralympics trials were going to be, and I was the youngest competitor to go at that time in 2004 for track and field. And I made it. I was top three and after those games, I knew that I wanted to change and I knew that I wanted to go the next Paralympics, and I wanted to add more events, and I wanted to get better placement.

But I think what I wanted more was to be an advocate for this sport, because in Athens we didn't have the packed stadium. We hardly didn't have anyone in the stands. When I came back to the United States, it was like the Paralympics never happened. It wasn't-- the Paralympics wasn't celebrated, and so I thought, well, Paralympics is awesome and it is just like the Olympics.

And I want this to be promoted. So I wanted to be an advocate. So I thought, one way to do that is become like the number one in the world. Do every single event, try to [INAUDIBLE] on everyone. Be that crazy person because if you're like Serena or Naomi or Simon. If you do absolutely amazing, the people will listen to you and you can have a voice. And so that's what I wanted. And the rest is kind of history.

JULIE FINK: Well, I can't say that I know what it's like to train for the Olympics, but I have a bit of an insight in what it's like to be an advocate and to be a plaintiff in a lawsuit. And you're both an athlete with disabilities, you're both a woman in sports, you've been fighting for equity, and you've made a lot of remarkable change including some of what was featured in the clip we saw and beyond that.

And this is a community of women who are all fighting for change in their field in the world. Can you tell us about your work as an advocate and your fight for equity and what that was like for you?

TATYANA MCFADDEN: Yes. My role as an advocate was first tested in high school. As I mentioned before, I arrived home from Paralympic the games in Athens with a silver and bronze medal and as any high schooler, I was very anxious to start high school and all I wanted to do was become a member of my track team. But I was denied any uniform, denied the right to race alongside of others on the track. I knew it was just not right, I knew it was segregation at that point.

And with-- so with my mom at my side-- my mom is a very powerful woman. She was one of the 12 authors of the ADA. She worked under the first Bush administration for disability rights and advocacy. So I knew there was the person to talk to about this. And so with my mom at my side, we brought suit against the high school system not for money, but for the right to be treated equally in sports.

So our victory result in the creation of a new law. The Sports and Fitness Equity Act and it's been embraced nationwide, which is amazing. But it forever changes the days of high school athletics for all. Giving all young people with disabilities the right to be fully equal in the world of sports. And it was very hard thing to do as a high schooler.

To battle this for four years plus beyond because it went federal. But the fight for equality continues around the world and unfortunately, here in the United States, we must really be advocates and that's why I think it's amazing that women are standing up because the time is absolutely now, and that we all must speak out when we see injustice or when that injustice happens to us like myself.

And so, with that being said, I mean, speaking out, we must also acknowledge a process that's been made. So we've come a long way since that. Since I was denied the right to race alongside with others on the high school track team but we still have quite a long way to go as well.

JULIE FINK: And Thanks to your work, I think this year is the first year that Paralympians are going to be paid equally to other Olympians which is really so incredible and such an important change. And we see it all the time how equity in sports sets this-- sets the model for the rest of us and helps foster equity everywhere.

TATYANA MCFADDEN: Yes.

JULIE FINK: One of the organizations I know we're very tight on time, [? Jenny ?] mentioned at the start is Angel City Sports. Can you tell us a little bit more about this organization, how people on this Zoom can get involved, and what we can all do.

TATYANA MCFADDEN: Yes, I absolutely love our Angels City Sports. They're based in California and I feel like every city in our country needs a profit-- nonprofit like Angel City Sports. It's based in Los Angeles. This organization promotes the well-being of people with disabilities through physical activity. That's extremely important because when you build self-confidence, that's why my parents put me into sports. Was to build that self-confidence.

It wasn't to become like you know, Paralympic athlete, that was my dream. But they had anything from wheelchair basketball, to racing, to yoga, to the field, and ice hockey, any sport you know, name it, they have it. So the programs are year round and they-- and now many are available virtually because due to COVID. But that opened up amazing opportunities as well.

So it opens up to people around the United States. And I just encourage you to visit their website you can and learn a lot about this remarkable organization. And you can sign up to be volunteer, which is cool. And if you don't live in a Los Angeles area, you can also advocate for the establishment of an organization like Angel City Sports in your own town. And you can find this through you us.paralympics.org.

JULIE FINK: That's awesome. We've seen so much-- you're headed to Tokyo very soon and I'm eager to hear what you are most looking forward to at this year's games. Obviously though it's also been a year where a lot of our attention has been on athletes and in particular women athletes and some of the struggles that they're having and some of the treatment that they're receiving by the Olympics.

So [INAUDIBLE] just decided to compete in a few races so she could take care of herself. I'm wondering how you are feeling about this year's Olympics and Paralympics.

TATYANA MCFADDEN: Yes. I-- foremost, I respect all my team USA members. I think that they're amazing. Everyone who qualified just to go to the Olympics and Paralympics already deserves a gold medal because the process is-- I can't explain. It it's long and it's demanding and it's-- and it's games like no other.

So there is no fan crowd. I mean, this is the first games that my parents are not going to be going as well my family, my friends. And there's other stressors around that we have to deal with a competition that we normally don't have to deal with. And so-- but for me I'm just excited to compete again. I haven't actually raced and so this will be my third track meet essentially.

So I'm just hoping to make it to the finals . Hopefully just get top three. Really just enjoy the whole process and being there, and really just being proud that I did it. We did it in a global pandemic. And just to represent myself and my country, and just learn at each race and I'm already proud of myself with medals or no medals.

I know it's a very, very unique year. So I'm just going to go out and have fun and FaceTime my family as soon as I finish each event.

JULIE FINK: Well, you're certainly making all of us very proud to be able to cheer for team USA. We have a couple of questions and then I don't want to get off of Jenny's timeline. So let me go to some of the Q&A. We have, do you have a favorite hype song before you compete?

TATYANA MCFADDEN: I do. I love Beyoncé. Anything-- anything Beyoncé is my go to hype song.

JULIE FINK: And what about, do you have a favorite sport to watch?

TATYANA MCFADDEN: Oh, gosh. I love watching everything. Like I love the Olympics, I love watching gymnastics and swimming and basketball and our women's soccer team. I love all the sports. [INAUDIBLE] softball came back so that has been really nice to watch. Rock climbing and of course track and field.

JULIE FINK: That's awesome. Here's another question. What advice would you give to your 15-year-old self competing in the Paralympics for the first time?

TATYANA MCFADDEN: Have fun and then follow that rule, have fun. It feels like two rules in life. It's have fun and then, second rule follow your first rule.

JULIE FINK: Well, thank you so much. I'm going to turn it back over to [? Jenny, ?] but I just want to say, thank you for being here and thank you for the work that you've done. It's really changed the world. It's made a huge difference in a lot of our lives. And I'm personally really grateful to you.

TATYANA MCFADDEN: Thank you. Thanks for having me and thanks for all the wonderful questions, and it's great to see you virtually hopefully one day we'll meet in person.

JULIE FINK: Absolutely.