PORTLAND, Ore. — Beaverton’s Dennis Connors is headed to Paris for the Paralympics. He'll be riding a trike.
“Beyond excited — I mean, it's an honor and privilege to represent my country; I can't wait to get out there and race my bike,” Connors said.
The journey to get to this point has been a challenging one. Connors grew up rock climbing. He eventually joined the Marines and served nine years, including three combat tours in Iraq.
“I am one of many vets who didn't realize they had traumatic brain injuries,” he said.
When he returned home, he began cycling as therapy and for mental health reasons, but he had balance issues.
“One of my friends who got me into this whole thing said, 'You ride your bike like a toddler.' I would veer left or veer right; I couldn't stay in a straight line,” Connors said.
A second stroke in 2020 left him with a lack of muscle control and significant weakness on his left side. In 2021, he transitioned to a tricycle, which is like a regular racing bike — just with a longer rear axle to accommodate two wheels.
“It changed everything,” he said. “I can ride in a straight line."
His first success came at the national level in 2021. He then went to the World Cup in 2022 and won a gold medal in the road race at the 2023 World Championships. That's led him to the Paralympics.
What Connors has learned through all of this is that you have to adapt, push forward, accept limitations and never give up on the things you love to do.
“My left side is much, much weaker than my right side, but I just have to ride with that. But guess what? I still ride bikes," Connors said. "And I do it on the world stage and I’m World Champion and I wear the rainbow stripes."
Connors is set to race at the Paralympics Sept. 4 and Sept. 7.