U.S. Paralympic athlete Nick Mayhugh chatted with Markos Papadatos at the USA Track and Field Championships in Randall’s Island Park, New York.
For Mayhugh, racing in New York was about more than another competition. It was an opportunity to compete in front of a passionate crowd, represent the Paralympic movement and remind fans that Paralympic athletes deserve the same recognition and respect as their Olympic counterparts.
“It’s amazing,” Mayhugh said. “It’s my first time racing in New York. The city’s amazing, and the fans showed out for the Olympic and Paralympic National Championships. I’m just excited to be a part of it.”
For Mayhugh, the significance of the moment extended beyond his own performance. He wants more people to become invested in Paralympic sport—to learn about the athletes, pick favorites and get emotionally involved.
“We really get to show a lot of people what we’re capable of, that we’re elite athletes and we deserve the same respect,” he said. “I’m happy to be a part of it. That’s all I can ask.”
His message to fans is simple: to get involved. “Everybody else? Just get involved. Learn. Pick a favorite athlete. Cheer. Pick me, too,” Mayhugh said with a laugh. “Be a fan of me or hate me. Make fun of me, do whatever you need to do. But it helps the sport.”
What matters most, he said, is treating Paralympic athletes like elite athletes.
“Treat us the same like you would the Olympians,” Mayhugh said. “People out here booing, cheering—treat us the same. That’s all I ask.”
After a difficult stretch physically, Mayhugh said one of the biggest positives coming out of the competition is simply feeling healthy again.
“This is the first time I’ve been able to run healthy in a long time,” he said. “I finally feel good, so it’s just getting back to it.” There is still work to do. Mayhugh identified his start and his ability to maintain his speed throughout the race as two areas he wants to improve.
“I need to get better in that start and just hold my speed throughout the whole race,” he said. “But I feel good.”
That feeling of health has given him a different perspective on the competition—and on what comes after it. “I’m healthy. I get to go home with my family, my beautiful girlfriend and my cute little puppy at home,” he said. “So, I’m blessed.”
Asked what fans can expect from him in the future, Mayhugh didn’t hesitate. “More gold. A lot more gold.” There is another battle taking place away from the track. Mayhugh is currently involved in a fight with the Paralympic movement over his classification.
“I’m in a fight with the Paralympics right now to get reclassified,” he said. “That’s how that goes. It’s really frustrating, but I’m hoping that the next generations won’t have to go through it after I’m done.”
Despite the frustration, his competitive fire remains very much intact. “A lot more gold,” he reiterated.
Mayhugh defines Success
For Mayhugh, success hasn’t always meant the same thing. When he was younger, success was measured in medals, golds and world records. But over time, he discovered that winning alone wasn’t enough.
“When I was younger, it meant winning all those medals,” he said. “It meant those golds, world records. But those didn’t bring me a lot of joy. It was very short and sweet.”
Today, his definition is much more personal. “Success just means having love and support out here,” Mayhugh said. “To hear people sharing my name, supporting me. My family’s here. I just find joy in it all.”
That, he says, is what success truly means to him. “And the man above,” he added. “God bless.”
“Stay Tuned”
For the fans who have followed Mayhugh through the highs and lows of his career, his message is clear: there is more to come.
“Stay tuned,” he said. “Got a lot of good things coming.”
Mayhugh acknowledged that the past few years have been challenging, particularly on the track. But he remains committed to fighting forward—not only for himself, but for the people who support him and for the broader Paralympic movement.
“I know it’s been a rough few years, me personally, on the track,” he said. “But I’m fighting every single day for you guys.”
His ambitions extend beyond his own medal count. He wants to see track and field and Paralympic sport continue to grow, with athletes receiving the recognition they deserve.
“Continue supporting track and field, the Paralympic movement—all of it,” Mayhugh said. “It’s more than just me.”
And while he may be chasing more gold, his larger goal is equally clear: to leave the sport better than he found it.
“So I appreciate you guys,” he said. “But there’s a lot more coming.”
To learn more about Nick Mayhugh, follow him on Instagram.
