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At the Paralympics, there is often an alternate reality, a life-changing sliding-door moment in which everything that was known changes in an instant.
In another world, Faye Rogers would be back home watching these Games on television, with a neatly stored Olympic medal.
The 21-year-old competed in the Olympic trials three years ago, but was injured in a car accident on her way to college nearly three years later. Her doctor told her he could save her arm, but not her swimming career. Luckily, he was only half right.
Rogers was the fastest qualifier for the S10 100m butterfly final but had to pass teammate Callie-Ann Warrington, the eventual silver medallist, in the final 50 metres, the race being the highlight of another night of jumping at La Defense Arena.
“It’s been almost exactly three years since my accident, so it’s a bit of an emotional moment,” Rogers said. “It’s a big closure moment and I couldn’t be more proud of how far I’ve come.”
“I couldn’t have asked for anything better over the last three years. Getting into parasport has been the best thing ever, I couldn’t be more grateful for the journey and I’ve learned a lot about myself.
“There are always days when it feels like things are never going to get better, but they do. There is always a way to adapt and overcome challenges. I have discovered over the last three years that nothing is impossible; things can just be a little different.”
“I never could have imagined this could happen, it’s crazy and so cool. I started getting messages from people who were in similar situations and it makes me so proud and grateful that my experiences can help other people.”
Rogers studies biochemistry at the University of Aberdeen, where she is coached by Patrick Miley, who has guided the career of his daughter Hannah, a three-time Olympian and two-time world medallist.
She won the event on her international debut at the World Championships in Manchester last year and now has her sights set on Sophie Pascoe’s long-standing world record of 1:02.60, considered one of the all-time records in para-swimming.
Rogers returned to swimming just three months after her accident. Miley, one of Britain’s most respected coaches, initially used the sport as therapy and rehabilitation. She now has difficulty moving the right side of her body, and her coach has had to devise a training programme that teaches her how to regain her balance in the water.
“I met Patrick before my accident and was really excited to move to Aberdeen to train with him,” added Rogers.
“Hannah was one of my heroes in the British swimming team. I loved how she was nicknamed Smiley and how much she seemed to love the sport. I was really impressed.
“Swimming is my life and when I thought it was going to be taken away from me, it was very hard to accept. At first, I wanted to get back on the Olympic path, but it was Patrick who started talking to me about these Paralympic Games.
“He’s been absolutely amazing, he’s supported me every step of the way and my training partner Toni Shaw has been amazing as well, I definitely wouldn’t be here without her, she’s just my rock.
“I don’t think I would have made it without swimming. It saved my life after my accident. It turned the worst time of my life into something very positive.”
Meanwhile, teammate Callie-Ann Warrington insisted she had Rogers in her sights after setting a personal best in the swim, a sign of an encouraging, if friendly, domestic rivalry heading into Los Angeles.
“To be able to compete against Faye is just awesome,” she said.
“We’ve been saying to each other for the last few months, ‘Come on, we can do the double.’ It was nice to have her by my side. We’re really good friends until we get to the blocks, and then we’re competitors.”
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