KSHB 41: Children's Mercy doctors help classify athletes ahead of Paralympic Games
By Grant Stephens
The Paris Olympics just came to an end, but in just a few days, the world can relive all the excitement and spirit with the start of the Paralympics.
Doctors Mark Fisher and Matt McLaughlin are both pediatric physiatrists at Children’s Mercy — the kind of doctors who help children regain functionality after an injury or surgery.
They also play a big role in the Paralympic Games, working as classifiers for sport climbing and cycling.
Both help determine the skill level of athletes to see who they should compete with.
“We believe in participation in sport, but we also believe in competition in sport," said McLaughlin, who is an international classifier for Union Cycliste Internationale.
Their work helps legitimize the competition, which is a necessary step to compete on the highest levels.
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