Today we’d like to introduce you to Deja Young.
Hi Deja, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
So, I was actually injured at birth. I got stuck on my mom’s pelvic bone and the doctor panicked because the umbilical cord was wrapped around my neck. Therefore, the doctor ended up pulling on my head too hard and he tore the nerves and muscles in my neck, shoulder, and arm. This resulted in me having a brachial plexus injury. I ended up having 3 surgeries before the age of six. After all of my surgeries, the doctors told my parents to just let me be kid as my rehab. With that being said my parents put me in every sport you can imagine. I was extremely active and was very competitive. I was played sports all through elementary and middle school. Middle school is where I really got my love for sports. At one point I was playing 3 sports at one time. I loved it and I think that still plays a big role in my life today. When I got to high school, I played volleyball and ran track my freshman year. When track season came in the spring, I made varsity and had a great season. I ended up being on varsity for the entirety of my high school career. Through my high school career, I was bullied a lot. When I sit back and think about, I can talk on one hand how many people asked me about my arm. A lot of people just didn’t understand and just made fun of me instead. With the amazing support of my high school coach, I was able to push through it. So, when it came to me wanting to go to college for track, he was so supportive. To be quite honest if weren’t for my mom filling out of the questionnaires for university programs, I wouldn’t have made it that far. After a few responses, I went on my first visit. I would be lying if I said that it was perfect. The campus was great but when I disclosed to the coach that I had been injured at birth, she told me that I was a liability. Her exact words were “If I can’t fix it, I don’t want.” in that moment I felt defeated. I wanted to give up. Wichita State University was the last school to reach out to me. At my visit, I of course disclosed my arm and the coaches didn’t even bat an eye. Instead, they asked me what leg of the relay would I like to be on. With that being said I ended up signing with WSU. My first year was phenomenal. My first year there we had a big home meet and a coach approached my coach. He was a coach of a para-athlete and he asked my coach if would be interested in the Paralympics. My coach really didn’t know what they were so he waited like a week to ask me because he didn’t want to offend me. But when he told me, I was totally on board. So, we did all of the paperwork and next thing you know I am flying straight from NCAAs to my first Nationals with the Paralympics. In July of 2015, I was officially named to my first national team and to my first World Team. From there it has been a whirlwind. With the support of my coaches and my parents, I wouldn’t be where I am today.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It absolutely has not been easy at all. If it was easy everyone would do it. I definitely struggled with my mental health a lot. Especially in college because I was having such a hard time balancing everything. From school to being social to traveling to para meets. I, unfortunately, had a suicide attempt in May of 2016 just a month before the Paralympic Trials for Rio. I had choice to make and it was either take a step back and take a break or push through. I pushed through and made my first Games team. At my first games, I became a double gold medalist. But just 2 months after the games, I was in a really bad car accident and it left me on bed rest. I had to finish my semester at home. I was back in that dark place and had to start from scratch. 2017 was a tough year with my mental health still deteriorating. But yet again I pushed through and became a double gold medalist in London. From there I thought that it would be a good time to tell my story.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Within my track and field career, I specialize in short sprints. I have made 3 World Teams and 2 Games teams in a span of 6 years. My proudest moment is actually finishing this past year. 2021 was an extremely difficult time for me. I didn’t even want to compete. I hated everything about my career at the point and felt like I was wasting my time. My coach knew I was struggling and told me if I didn’t want to show up, he would support me. I showed up and did the best I could. I ended up medaling at my second games. You know I have never really seen myself as special. I would just say everything that I have been through and pushed though I did it because I wanted to be the person that I needed when I was at me lowest. I wanted to be that person for those out there who were struggling and needed a light.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Of course, my biggest parents were my biggest supporters. They have always told me that I am no different from anyone and I am capable of anything that I put my mind to.
My coach. Joaquim Cruz. One of the greatest people I have ever met has always supported me. No matter what I needed he was always there. I don’t think that I would have made it as far as I did without him. Cruz was professional athlete as well and he just understood what it took to get to the top.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @_dejyou
- Twitter: @_DejaRae
