SPOKANE, Wash. — Raphael Botsyo isn’t fazed by competition.
He’s been overcoming obstacles his whole life.
“I’ve lived with a disability for almost 38 years now,” Botsyo said.
Raphael developed Polio at four years old, causing the bottom half of his body to be paralyzed.
In his native country of Ghana, those with disabilities are seen as cursed and are sometimes killed.
“People think you are not somebody that we need to recognize in this family,” Botsyo said.
When Raphael was teenager he and his family moved to another region in Ghana.
That’s where he found the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled , an organization that provides opportunities for people with disabilities.
Botsyo was introduced to the world of adaptive sports.
“I was laughing,” Botsyo said. “I said no, you need your legs to do sports. If you don’t have your legs how can you practice any sports?”
That first sport was basketball.
“In a relationship some would say my first love,” Botsyo said.
But the love of the game comes second to the love for his country.