In Episode 178 of the Eyes Free Sports podcast, our guest is Tre’Shaun Faison, a Paralympian in goalball from the Jacksonville, FL area. During the interview, Faison talked about:

• Where he was born and grew up
• His visual impairment
• His experience attending the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind (FSDB)
• How he got into blind sports, specifically goalball
• What it took to make the national men's goalball team
• Competing at the 2024 Paralympics in Paris, France
• What he believes it takes to succeed in goalball
• His experience coaching goalball at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind (CSDB)

Follow Tre’Shaun Faison on Instagram at http://instagram.com/tremfaison.

In Episode 177 of the Eyes Free Sports podcast, we chat with Marina Mears, a competitive swimmer and paratriathlete who is training for the Paralympics. During the conversation, Mears spoke about:

• Where she was born and grew up
• Her visual impairment
• How she got into competitive swimming
• Her education at Clemson University
• Completing her first half-Ironman and full Ironman
• Joining the USA Triathlon Paratriathlon U23 Development Team
• Becoming the Paratriathlon National Series Champion to earn a spot on the USA Paratriathlon Resident Team
• What life is like living and training at the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs
• The next steps and competitions for her
• Her take on the guide-athlete relationship
• What it would mean to compete at the 2028 Paralympics
• Her advice to anyone interested in becoming a recreational or elite athlete

Follow Marina Mears on Instagram at http://instagram.com/marinaamears.

In Episode 176 of the Eyes Free Sports podcast, we highlight the Orlando, FL chapter of Achilles International. We are joined by Catherine Besand and Bobby Withers, two leaders of the chapter. During the conversation, they spoke about:

• Their personal and professional backgrounds
• Bobby’s military service and the injury he sustained in combat
• Bobby’s involvement with Homes For Our Troops
• Their athletic endeavors, specifically with running
• An overview of Achilles International
• The inspiration behind starting the Orlando chapter of Achilles International
• The chapter’s current activities and looking ahead to the future
• How United in Stride works to help connect guides and athletes with disabilities
• The benefits of sports and recreation for people with disabilities
• How people can learn more and get involved in Achilles International

Learn more about Achilles International and find a local chapter at http://achillesinternational.org/. Check out the Orlando chapter of Achilles International at http://achillesinternational.org/orlando and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/achillesorlandofl/.