Lex Gillette is my guest today. Elexis “Lex” Gillette is a blind Paralympic athlete originally from Raleigh, North Carolina and now training in Chula Vista, California. Lex competes in T11 (track) and F11 (field) events for the United States.

I was excited to speak with Lex about his travels around the world for track and field as well as his travels for his speaking engagements. Obviously he has a different perspective from most business travelers. We discussed how he gets around the airports and what he likes and dislikes about the service at airports.

We also discussed the possibilities the COVID 19 lockdown could have on him achieving his Paralympic gold medal quest. Make sure to look for him in the Japan 2021 Paralympics and if you need a motivational speaker for an event visit his website for more information.

Available on Apple Podcasts, SoundCloud, YouTube, iHeart Radio, Stitcher, Google Podcasts, Spreaker, Castbox, Overcast, Breaker, Pocket Casts, Radio Public, and Spotify.

Intro song “Road Trip” by Robin Tricker

Lex Gillette on social media:

• Twitter
• Website
• Instagram
• YouTube
• Facebook
• LinkedIn

Lex’s listening choice while traveling for work is:

Lex listens to music when traveling. 

Click here to see other guests choices for listening while traveling

ABOUT

He competed in the 2004 Summer Paralympics in Athens, where he won silver in the men’s long jump F11 event. At the 2008 Summer Paralympics in Beijing, he won a silver medal in the men’s long jump F11 event and finished fifth in the men’s triple jump F11. He competed in 100 m and 200 m T11 events but did not advance to the finals. At the 2012 Summer Paralympics in London, he won a third consecutive silver medal in the men’s long jump F11 event and finished fourth in the triple jump event. 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio, he won a fourth consecutive silver medal in the men’s Long Jump – T11 event.

At the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France, he won gold in the men’s long jump F11 event and he also won silver in the triple jump event. Gillette was a part of the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships 4 × 100 m relay team that won a silver medal and set a new American record in the process. Gillette broke his own long jump world record for F11 classified athletes of 6.73 m (22 feet 1 inch) with a leap of 6.77 m (22 feet 2 in.) on April 23, 2015, at a high performance meet held at the Chula Vista Olympic Training Center.

He attended Athens Drive High School and graduated from East Carolina University in 2007.

In November 2015, Gillette received the Athletes in Excellence Award from The Foundation for Global Sports Development, in recognition of his community service efforts and work with youth.

Music

Lex Gillette is also a musician. He plays the piano and enjoys singing. Gillette released a music single on April 16, 2012 that was originally titled Go for Gold and was later changed to On the Stage.

Beep ball

While in high school, Gillette was introduced to beep ball, a modified form of baseball for the visually impaired and blind. In 2003, Gillette was recruited to play with the West Coast Dawgs of the National Beep Baseball Association. His first role with the team consisted mostly of designated hitter duties, but in 2005, Gillette became the starting right fielder for the Dawgs. In 2005 West Coast finished 5th in the World Series that were held in Houston, Texas. 2006 saw the Dawgs play in the championship game where they lost to the Taiwan Home Run. The 2007 World Series of Beep Ball were held in Rochester, Minnesota, and the Dawgs returned to the championship game only to lose to the Kansas All Stars. In 2008, Gillette won his first World Series title with the West Coast Dawgs as they outlasted Kansas for the world title. He was named to the offensive all-star team in the same year. The Dawgs returned to the 2009 World Series title game and repeated as champions against the Taiwan Home Run. In both 2010, and 2011, the West Coast Dawgs played in the World Series title game against the Taiwan Home Run, and both times, Gillette scored the game-winning run to put the Dawgs on top as world champions. ESPN’s E60 featured Gillette and the West Coast Dawgs’ 2011 title run.

Lex Gillette Day

Mayor David S. Gysberts and Washington County Board of Commissioners Terry Baker proclaimed September 25 Lex Gillette Day in both Hagerstown, Maryland and Washington County.

Major Accomplishments

2019: IPC Athletics World Championships Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2016: Paralympic Games Silver Medalist – Long Jump, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2015: Desert Challenge Games Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Tempe, Arizona

2014: IPC Athletics Grand Prix Finals Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Birmingham, England

2014: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Long Jump, San Mateo, California

2014: Meeting d’Athlétisme Paralympique de Paris Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Paris, France

2014: Italian Open Championships Grand Prix Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Grosseto, Italy

2014: Italian Open Championships Grand Prix Silver Medalist – 100m sprint, Grosseto, Italy

2014: IX Internacional Meeting Kern Pharma, Gran Prix Sauleda Champion – Long Jump, Barcelona, Spain

2014: Desert Challenge Games Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Mesa, Arizona

2013: IPC Athletics World Championships Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Lyon, France

2013: IPC Athletics World Championships Silver Medalist – Triple Jump, Lyon, France

2013: IPC Athletics World Championships Silver Medalist – 4 × 100 m relay, Lyon, France

2013: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Long Jump, San Antonio, Texas

2013: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Triple Jump, San Antonio, Texas

2013: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Silver medalist – 100m Sprint, San Antonio, Texas

2012: Paralympic Games Silver Medalist – Long Jump, London, England

2012: Desert Challenge Games Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Mesa, Arizona

2011: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Miramar, Florida

2011: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Triple Jump, Miramar, Florida

2011: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – 100m sprint, Miramar, Florida

2011: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – 200m sprint, Miramar, Florida

2011: Desert Challenge Games Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Mesa, Arizona

2011: Desert Challenge Games Gold Medalist – 100m sprint, Mesa, Arizona

2011: IPC Athletics World Championships Bronze Medalist – Triple Jump, Christchurch, New Zealand

2011: IPC Athletics World Championships Bronze Medalist – 200m sprint, Christchurch, New Zealand

2010: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Miramar, Florida

2010: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Triple Jump, Miramar, Florida

2010: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – 100m sprint, Miramar, Florida

2010: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – 200m sprint, Miramar, Florida

2010: Paralympic World Cup Bronze Medalist – 100m sprint, Manchester, England

2010: Athletics Disability Challenge Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Liverpool, England

2008: Paralympic Games Silver Medalist – Long Jump, Beijing, China

2008: U.S. Paralympics track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Tempe, Arizona

2008: U.S. Paralympics track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Triple Jump, Tempe, Arizona

2007: Para-Pan American Games Bronze Medalist – Long Jump, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2007: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Marietta, Georgia

2006: IPC Athletics World Championships Silver Medalist – Long Jump, Assen, The Netherlands

2006: U.S. Paralympics Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Atlanta, Georgia

2006: Paralympic World Cup Silver Medalist – Long Jump, Manchester, England

2004: Paralympic Games Silver Medalist – Long Jump, Athens, Greece

2002: United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) Track and Field National Championships Gold Medalist – Long Jump, Colorado Springs, Colorado