Student Documenting Triathlete’s Journey To The 2024 Paralympic Games
Senior Lukas Vysniauskas (left) in Park City, Utah with triathlete Carson Clough (right) ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
Senior Lukas Vysniauskas did not know what to expect when he traveled to Park City, Utah, this summer to film US Paralympian Carson Clough’s training ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris.
Vysniauskas is one of nine School of Journalism and Media students who will be covering the Paralympic Games for the USA TODAY Network. His primary role is to be the group’s videographer, providing video content for online and social media.
While brainstorming content ideas ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games, School of Journalism and Media Professor Erin Whiteside introduced the students to Paralympic triathlon athlete Carson Clough, who shared his experience as a Paralympic athlete during a summer course preparing them for the Games.
This inspired the idea of working with the Paralympic athlete to produce a mini documentary on the athlete’s preparation, training, and mentality of being a Paralympic level triathlete.
“Throughout this experience, I have tried to ensure each student has the opportunity to work in their area of expertise,” Whiteside said. “Lukas is a gifted filmmaker, and I am so happy that Lukas had the chance to work with Carson in this capacity.”
Vysniauskas said Clough was excited to shed light on himself, his training and passion for endurance sports, how he was mentally preparing to compete at the Paralympics, and the significance of the Games. The videographer will reconnect with Clough in Paris to follow his Paralympic journey through the end of the Games before completing the mini documentary.
Vysniauskas has filmed different sports while working for the University of Tennessee Athletics department, but this was his first time shooting a triathlete. Over three days of filming, he captured Clough’s training routine, which includes a sixty-mile morning bike ride, a five-mile run, and then swimming laps. In addition, he sat down to conduct one-on-one interviews with the Paralympic athlete.
“It was just unbelievable to see what kind of training this Paralympian was putting in and it was pretty much my first time spending time with a Paralympic athlete,” Vysniauskas said. “It did truly blow me away at what a high level he trains and competes at.”
The student said the experience grew his skills as an aspiring videographer and also prepared him to cover the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris later this month.
Vysniauskas said he is excited to take everything he learned through classwork and hands-on experiences at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and apply them to cover the Paralympic Games. He is looking forward to capturing not only the athletes, but also the fans cheering them on against the picturesque background of Paris.
Vysniauskas said seeing other students already get experience in covering these athletes ahead of the Games also makes him feel ready to go to Paris. Three students recently had their work about the 2024 US Paralympic Track and Field Team Trials published by USA TODAY as part of its coverage leading up to the Games.
As the days till he is in Paris inch closer, Vysniauskas’ excitement continues to grow. He recalls his family’s excitement around the Olympic and Paralympics as a kid, so going to an actual event to practice the craft he loves is a dream come true.
Being of Lithuanian heritage, he added he is particularly excited by the possibility of watching the Lithuanian athletes compete and share the stories with his family.
“Being from Lithuania, they’re always really excited to see a Lithuanian athlete competing,” Vysniauskas said.“But they’re so excited that I’m going to be able to cover this event that we’ve been watching for years. They really can’t believe that I’m going, and I think when I send them a picture they’re going to be blown away.”
Covering the Paralympics will be Vysniauskas’ final project as an undergraduate student as he earns the final credits he needs to graduate.
Vysniauskas said the best part about being a Volunteer is the numerous hands-on opportunities he took advantage of as a college student. This includes working with the video production team at Tennessee Athletics and traveling with the school to Realscreen Summit 2024, an annual global market and conference for the unscripted and non-fiction entertainment industry.
“I absolutely loved and I’m still thrilled and smile every day thinking about the four years that I have had at UT,” Vysniauskas said. “The people, my classmates, and professors were absolutely extraordinary.”
Student Documenting Triathlete’s Journey To The 2024 Paralympic Games written by Ernest Rollins and originally published on the College of Communication & Information site.