The Ability 360 Gym offers seniors, military personnel, and the disabled and their families the freedom to exercise and keep active in Phoenix.
PHOENIX – The Tokyo Paralympic Games begin on August 24th and last until September 5th.
Not only does Arizona have multiple athletes competing against each other, but it’s also home to a unique sports and fitness center that has helped Paralympians prepare for Tokyo.
After Corey Lovato broke his neck in a snowboard accident, he wanted to continue his active lifestyle in a wheelchair.
“That has always been a big part of my life and it’s here,” said Lovato. “It’s really nice to go to the gym and work out.
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Phoenix’s Ability 360 sports and fitness center enables Lovato to stay active.
“(I) Roll to one of the machines and start exercising from your chair,” Lovato said.
Lovato values the freedom Ability 360 Gym offers seniors, military personnel, and people with disabilities and their families.
Ability 360 is also home to Paralympians who train and work here, said Brielle Carter, a senior manager.
“It’s kind of a 360 full circle experience,” Carter said. “We’re giving them the work experience so they can work and train and earn a living and represent Phoenix, Arizona and the United States in Tokyo.”
The center is also a venue for local to international adaptive sporting events, Carter said.
“We have a youth swim team, a master swim team,” Carter said. “We do water courses, we do adaptive diving, we do adaptive kayaking and paddleboarding. We also have a 35-foot cliff.”
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It is a series of activities that promote health and independence.
For Lovato, an attorney and board member of Ability 360, this gym is a place he’s busy outside as well.
“To be able to do sports again, you need the strength for it,” said Lovato. “Training here enables me to do that outside.”
