'I'll be ready' - Ezra Frech eyes peak performance at LA 2028 Paralympics

The 2028 Paralympics will be held in Ezra Frech’s hometown Los Angeles.

Born without most of his left leg and missing fingers on his left hand, Ezra Frech didn’t give up. His disability couldn’t stop him from achieving greatness. Set on a life mission to normalise disability, Frech today is one of the brightest young stars in the Para Sports Universe.

Now a two-time Paralympic gold medallist and former World Champion, Frech announced himself to the world by making his worlds debut at 14. Two years later, he finished fifth men’s high jump T63 at the Paralympics.

At 19, he won double gold at the Paris Paralympics and most recently penned a first professional contract with Adidas.

However, at the World Para Athletics Championships in Delhi, the 20-year-old couldn’t replicate his Paralympic performance yet returned with a high jump silver medal on the opening day. Frech then followed up with a season-best performance of 6.98 m in long jump and placed fifth in men’s 100m T63 event.

But with eyes on a bigger target, Frech isn’t perturbed by these disappointments. He aims to become the first para-athlete to win a hat-trick of gold medals in three different events at the Los Angeles Paralympics 2028.

Here are a few from Khel Now’s conversation with the USA star.

Thoughts on his performance in 2025 edition of World Championships

Ezra Frech: Yeah, I’m had a good time. New Delhi has been great to me. I wish my results could have been a little bit better, but this is how it goes. You come out here; you put it on the line.

Still only 20, Frech is already a Paralympic and World Champion. Infact, he won gold in two different events (100m T63 & High Jump T63) at the Paris Paralympics.

In New Delhi, the USA star settled for silver in men’s high jump T63 event, finishing second to India’s Shailesh Kumar who bagged gold.

Also Read: Markus Rehm–Steffi Nerius partnership comes full circle at World Para Athletics Championships 2025

Competing in the NCAA Division I

Frech created history when he became the first above-the-knee amputee to compete in an NCAA Division I track and field event. NCAA Division I is the highest division of intercollegiate athletics events in the USA and is one of the most prestigious events for athletes. Competing there with such a huge disadvantage is itself a huge milestone for him.

Ezra Frech: Honestly, it makes me more resilient, but it definitely makes the season longer. So sometimes we have to be careful not to be too tired when we get to the competition. We have to make sure to be peaking at the right time for para events. But I had a lot of great fun, and I made great friends.

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2028 Paralympics in his hometown

Frech has been a popular face in the USA for para-athletics, and with the 2028 Paralympics set to be held in his hometown Los Angeles, the 20-year-old is hungrier than ever.

Ezra Frech: I’m so excited. Everything I’m doing right now is to prepare for that. So, if things don’t look good right now, that’s okay. We’re still building and building and building, and then when the Games come to my hometown, I’ll be ready and will give my best.

He is quite active and popular on his social media. Frech has been posting about his training on his Instagram, and since the Paralympics will take place in the US in 2028, he will be the poster boy for the US para-athletics team.

Frech is determined to win all three golds (men’s high jump, men’s long jump and men’s 100m) at his home Paralympics.

Also Read: Changing Perceptions, Challenging Limits: Sumit Antil eyes bigger goals after defending worlds title

Running an NGO

Apart from his para career, Frech also runs an NGO named Angel City Sports, which is run with the help of his parents. Ezra has been quite vocal about disability rights and has been spreading the awareness since the age of four.

Ezra Frech: We started our non-profit organisation to provide sports for people with physical disabilities in California, in the USA, because we realised there weren’t a lot of sports opportunities for people with physical disabilities. And that’s how it came about. 12 years later, things are going well, and helping the community is my passion.

With his goals clear, the world will see one of the brightest stars competing at the 2028 LA Paralympics.

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