For the fifth time in his Paralympic career, Greenville native and two-time medalist Tyler Merren will be representing Team USA in goalball.
Goalball is a sport that was created in Germany after World War II as a way to give blind veterans a sport to play after serving in combat.
It is a three-on-three game where teams compete to score goals with balls that have bells in them, allowing for sound to help dictate the pace of play.
Merren has played the sport in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, Rio de Janeiro 2016, Tokyo 2020 and now in Paris 2024.
Merren says that the game has evolved over the 20 years he has been playing.
“The game is quicker now because of a change in the shot clock rule. “What it's done is it's made the game more athletic, it's made it faster," Merren said, "There are a lot of teams around the world who have developed. The sport has really grown.”
Merren has seen many sites over the years- the Great Wall of China and Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio to name a few. He has also shaken hands with former President Barack Obama.
He says it's hard to narrow down a single favorite moment over the past twenty years of his goal-ball career, but winning bronze against Canada in Athens stays with him.
“We were down 4-1 at halftime. We had a couple players who were injured, so it was really coming down to the wire. We were able to fight back and win,” Merren said, “I scored the winning goal on a penalty shot with 17 seconds left in the game. That was a pretty special experience.”
For all who want to try goal-ball, Merren suggests being an athlete first.
“Like any other sport, it's fast. It's competitive. It’s going to challenge you to push yourself. It's a game of inches. If you have the desire to pursue a high level of play, then set the bar high for yourself.”
Merren will be going for his first gold medal during this year’s games, after winning bronze in Athens and silver in Rio.
