John McFall, a British ex-paralympic sprinter now with ESA, is part of a pioneering study to see if physical disabilities affect space travel. He is pictured at the ESA Council meeting in Paris on November 23, 2022. AP Photo
John McFall, a distinguished British Paralympian and former surgeon, is making headlines this week for his dual role as an advocate for both sports and space exploration. At 43, McFall has achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first person with a physical disability to be essentially cleared for future missions by the European Space Agency (ESA).
McFall, who won a bronze medal in the 100 meters at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, is currently in France to support Team GB at the Paris Games. His presence underscores the significant progress athletes with disabilities have made, breaking down barriers and demonstrating extraordinary capabilities.
McFall’s journey is nothing short of inspirational. At 19, a motorcycle accident in Thailand led to the amputation of his right leg above the knee, abruptly ending his hopes of a military career. During the initial period following the accident, McFall faced significant challenges and periods of deep frustration. However, he found solace and a new sense of purpose in sports. "I went through some dark times during those early days, but largely frustration, because I needed something to quench that appetite I had for challenge and achieving. And for me, the natural choice was sport," McFall shared.
It took McFall eight years to transition from losing his leg to competing in the Paralympics. He credits this journey with teaching him invaluable lessons about perseverance and self-belief. "In the eight years that it took me from losing my leg to competing in Beijing, I learned a huge amount about myself: probably most importantly, that if I put the effort in, I can achieve whatever I want, really," he said.
McFall is now setting his sights on space. Three years ago, he came across an advertisement for an astronaut program looking for candidates with physical disabilities to participate in a European study on the feasibility of such individuals joining the International Space Station (ISS) crew. Intrigued by the challenge and the potential impact, McFall applied.
Recently, McFall has been on track to become the world's first "parastronaut" following months of intensive testing. This testing evaluated his ability to handle emergency procedures in space and adapt to microgravity. The study also looked at the effects of microgravity on bone density and how fluid shifts could affect his prosthesis.
While McFall has not yet been assigned to a specific space mission, the ESA has indicated that the study could make it technically possible for astronauts with physical disabilities to travel to space. McFall himself prefers not to focus on labels like "parastronaut." He views himself simply as a future astronaut who happens to have a disability. "If approved for a mission to the International Space Station, I would carry out my duties just like any other crewmember," he noted.
McFall hopes his journey, along with the accomplishments of the 4,000 Paralympians competing this week, will inspire others facing life-changing challenges. "What I would say to people who have any kind of trauma like this, or have a life-changing event like this, is whatever it may be, find something that you are passionate about," he advised.
As for Team GB's performance at the Paris Games, McFall remains optimistic. "GB have always been a very, very strong nation in the Paralympics. So from an overall medal point of view, the top three, and top five would always be tremendous. I'm very much looking forward to seeing what happens and I'll be there," he said.
