When Luca Ekler had a stroke at age 10, she knew nothing about disability, she describes it as a secret that had been hidden away in the dark. Becoming paralysed suddenly introduced her to a whole new world, one she wants the next generation of Hungarians to understand.

In just over a decade Luca has gone from using a wheelchair to winning Paralympic gold and setting a long jump world record at Tokyo 2020. 

Despite growing up in a family of talented athletes, none of them had heard of para sport until Luca saw the world championships on television as a teenager. It inspired her to represent her country. At age 22 heading to Japan, she was about to achieve her dream of becoming a Paralympian, but she came home a gold medallist, record breaker and carried Hungary's flag for the closing ceremony. 

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Speaking to CGTN Europe she finds it hard to put her achievements into words; "It was unbelievable, I was the happiest girl in the world because my dream came true… I was really happy to carry the Hungarian flag and make my country proud.”

Her biggest supporters throughout her career have been her family. With three brothers playing high level water polo and parents who both won athletic acclaim it's a family with a lot to celebrate. 

Heading to her first Paralympics without her biggest fans was a challenge but Luca says they were with her in spirit. She has their names written on her shoes and dedicates each jump to them. She explains her first jump of each competition is always for her mother, because she knows how nervous she is watching at home.

Loved ones on the other side of the world and a lack of crowds were just some of the many challenges athletes faced at the 2020 games. Coronavirus meant their events were in jeopardy for months and teams were confined to the village and their stadiums. 

Luca had nothing to compare it too and can only see the positives. Hungary took 38 Paralympic athletes and is yet to field representatives in any team sports, bringing the individual competitors closer together. “We were even better friends, we talked much more and were always cheering each other on in the races and this was the best part of it.” Luca said.

Back home with her gold medal Luca also holds a pin from a fellow French athlete, for Paris 2024. She's already training to represent Hungary there and hopes with changing coronavirus conditions and the proximity to home, her family will be in the stands. 

But over the next three years she has plenty to juggle. She's finishing university and her commitments for public speaking and visits have grown exponentially since she returned home.

 It might be tiring but Luca doesn't mind. She wants Hungarians to know more about disability and see the people it affects, not have the topic hidden in the shadows. 

She and her fellow athletes are leading the change they hope will transform the next generation. Talking about the many school visits, she told CGTN Europe,"They will grow up and be an adult who knows about disability and knows about disabled persons more than the people who are adults now.”