GRAND HAVEN, Mich. — In the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Evan Medell was facing off against Croatia's Ivan Mikulic in the semi-final of the men's taekwondo tournament.
"I felt really good about my chances against him," Medell said.
The winner would earn a trip to the gold medal match. Medell barely got going before disaster struck.
"...second or third kick I threw was a back leg round kick and I just nailed his elbow and it just kind of caved in my foot," Medell said. "Before I even hit the ground, it was all swelled up. I couldn't, I couldn't bend my ankle or nothing."
Medell went on to lose 28-9 before eventually winning the bronze medal. He became the first American to medal in the newly-added Paralympic sport.
If he won gold, Medell planned to retire.
"Once I achieved that I had nothing else to really achieve, so I was kind of ready to walk away," Medell said. "But not achieving that relit that fire... let's run it back, and then see if I can come out on top."
Medell is back for redemption in this year's Paralympic games in France. The goal is the same: win gold, and step into retirement as a champion.
"...if I come out on top, I don't have anything less left to prove in the sport," Medell said.
Medell has won gold medals in the Parapan American Games (2019), Canadian Open (2016), U.S. Open (2016), and Asian Championship (2015).
He's done it all with brachial plexus palsy, a condition that weakens parts of the arm. Medell has had the condition since birth, leading to stunted growth and limited mobility in his right arm.
"I wasn't able to stimulate growth plates in my arm...my right arm is smaller my left arm," Medell said. "I don't have good grip strength."
Taekwondo wise, it limits Medell's balance. It becomes easier for him to overextend himself when throwing certain kicks.
"...when I throw my right leg, I know I have to maybe shortchange my rotation a little bit because I'll over rotate if I throw it too committed," he said.
Medell grew up with the condition in Grand Haven, Michigan, where he learned some of the values that he brings to Taekwondo.
He grew accustomed to West Michigan's grind mentality that often included long hours and days not seeing the sun.
"Everybody works hard, and everybody takes pride in their work, I think. And that's what makes West Michigan special to me."
Medell could potentially be entering the final weeks of his decorated Taekwondo career. But even after the light dims, he wants to be remembered as a trailblazer.
"Hopefully I'm someone people can look up to. And have a blueprint of how I succeed in the sport," Medell said. "Hopefully, people surpass my performances and I'm someone who's kind of looked upon as the first generation in the first wave."
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