‘It feels like home’: Deaf basketball tournament brings hard of hearing students together | KSLTV

Untold by her athleticism, Isabella Aguilar has only been playing basketball for three weeks.

“I love sports of any kind,” she said.

We spoke with the 15-year-old through an interpreter. Aguilar said her passion is archery — she’s actually nationally-ranked and has a goal of making it to the Olympics — but basketball allows her to be part of a community.

“I just feel like I belong here, and I do feel like I’m part of them,” she said. “I mean, in archery, I’m with all hearing people. But basketball, I’m with deaf people and I can see those different perspectives. It’s so cool.”

Aguilar is one of the Utah deaf students participating in the Western States Basketball Classic. The Utah School for the Deaf is hosting five deaf schools from Washington, Oregon, Colorado and Arizona this weekend.

“It feels like home because everyone is deaf or hard of hearing,” said Utah School for the Deaf Athletic Director Jonathan Helgesen.

On the court, coaches and players communicate through sign language and have visual cues, like the backboard lighting up when the refs blow their whistles.

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USA Deaf Swimming Reveals Roster For 2025 Deaflympics

Team USA Deaf Swimming is proud to unveil the official roster of athletes who will compete at the 2025 Deaflympics in Tokyo, Japan. This talented group of swimmers has demonstrated exceptional dedication and skill, earning their place on the team to represent the United States on the international stage.

2025 Deaflympics Team USA Swimming Roster:

  • Samantha (Sammi) Fujii
  • Brooke Thompson
  • Carli Cronk
  • Matthea Gaines
  • Ava Pruden
  • Quinn Cannon
  • Collin Davis
  • Marcus Titus
  • Dawson Peng
  • Holden Ewan
  • Syler Pizzolato
  • Sam Kohm

The Deaflympics, taking place from November 15 to 26, 2025, offers an extraordinary opportunity for these athletes to compete at the highest level while fostering camaraderie and cultural exchange. The swimming competitions are scheduled for November 20 to 25, 2025, in Tokyo—a city renowned for its vibrant culture and hospitality.

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‘We have to fund the Deaflympics ourselves’ | BBC News

The Deaflympics is a “culturally important event” in the calendar but athletes have to fund themselves, says the CEO of UK Deaf Sport.

Chris Ratcliffe, 57, was born profoundly deaf and has represented Great Britain at the Deaflympics as a swimmer, as well as winning the Deaf Rugby World Cup in 2002 with Wales.

The Deaflympics, inspired by the Olympics, was set up partly to celebrate deaf culture, but also “to be able to compete with one another on a level playing field,” Mr Ratcliffe said.

He is hoping to raise awareness of the Deaflympics as it celebrates its 100th anniversary.

What is the Deaflympics?
The first Deaflympics was held in Paris back in 1924, with nine countries including Great Britain taking part.

It takes place every four years, with the 51st games to be held in Tokyo next year.

UK Deaf Sport is hoping to send a team of 115 people in sports such as athletics, swimming, and football.

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NHL in ASL: Top Goals from Week 1 | NHL.com

Recapping the top goals and players from Week 1 of the 2024-25 NHL Season in ASL, featuring moments from the Global Series, Utah Hockey Club’s first game in the NHL, and more.

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Historic ASL Sailing course takes place at Burlington’s community sailing center | WPTZ

This past week, the Community Sailing Center in Burlington has been hosting the only U.S. Sailing Association-certified American Sign Language course in the country.

People from all over traveled to Burlington for this experience.

Rachel Boll, from Massachusetts, said learning from a teacher who knows ASL made the trip worthwhile.

“Direct instruction is the best way to learn,” Boll said.

Instructor Bill Millios has been sailing since he was a kid.

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Champion bodybuilder Paula Davis raises awareness with ASL | MSN

ASL-infused bodybuilding performance

Paula Davis, a competitive bodybuilder known as “Wonder Woman,” is on a mission to promote inclusivity and raise awareness about American Sign Language (ASL) within the bodybuilding community. As a member of her church’s deaf ministry, Davis has integrated ASL into her bodybuilding performances to encourage acceptance and make the sport more accessible to the deaf and hard-of-hearing community.

Davis began her journey in bodybuilding in 2005 but had to put her aspirations on hold due to a breast cancer diagnosis, which led to a mastectomy and chemotherapy. Ten years later, in 2016, she returned to the sport and began competing. Despite the delay, Davis remained determined to achieve her goals, including becoming Miss Indiana.

Incorporating ASL into her routines, Davis aims to bridge the gap between the hearing and deaf communities within the sport. During her one-minute routine, she signs the lyrics of her chosen song, allowing those who are hearing impaired to engage with her performance.

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Anderson Wins Two Gold Medals at 2024 World Deaf Athletics Championships | The Daily Sentinel

SFA track and field athlete Jarvis Anderson took home two gold medals at the 2024 World Deaf Athletics Championships.

The Taylor, Texas native won gold in the 110-meter hurdles and 4x400m relay. Along with his two gold medals, Anderson also won three silver medals in triple jump, the 4x100m relay, and the 400-meter hurdles. Anderson will be a sophomore this upcoming school year and will compete for SFA’s indoor and outdoor track and field programs. This past spring, as a freshman, Anderson finished third in the 400-meter hurdles and the triple jump at the Western Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships, and followed that with an 11th place finish at the NCAA West Preliminary Round of the NCAA Championships.

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Behind the scenes of the NHL in ASL broadcast | NHL

A behind the scenes look at the NHL in ASL, a first of its kind broadcast featuring deaf broadcasters providing real-time play-by-play coverage and color commentary of each game of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.

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Winners crowned at ICCD World Deaf Chess Championship 2024 | fide.com

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