The Paralympic Games begin in Paris on Aug. 28, and paracanoe athlete Blake Haxton ‘16 will be among the competitors going for gold.  

Haxton, who also received his undergraduate degree in finance from Ohio State, is competing in his third Paralympic Games for Team USA. In the 2020 Tokyo Games, he won the silver medal in canoe sprint. Now, as he looks ahead to Paris, Haxton wants to continue his success while soaking up every moment.  

“It’s an incredible experience and a great atmosphere,” said Haxton. “There's things you can't predict, so I've learned to show up, go where they tell you, and enjoy the process for what it is.” 

The beginning of Haxton’s international athletic career is closely intertwined with his time at Moritz. During his 1L year, Haxton won the World Indoor Rowing Championship and received an invitation to try out for the U.S. national team. He then made the team between his 1L and 2L years—an experience that helped him shift his mindset. 

“Up until that point, I was preparing for a career that was pretty sedentary,” he recalls. “Receiving the invitation and making the team showed me I was capable of a lot more than maybe I thought.”  

Earning a spot on the team also put Haxton in qualifying position for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro. He trained every day while continuing to keep up with his law classes. In the spring, Haxton graduated with his JD, and in the summer, he competed in his first Paralympic Games. 

Haxton now works as a research analyst for Brandywine Global Investment Management. Typically, he trains both before and after his eight-hour workday. It’s a demanding schedule, but Haxton wouldn’t have it any other way.  

“If you get to do two things you really like, and it takes up your whole day, that's a good day,” he said. “I know a lot of people don't even get one, so I feel very lucky.” 

Haxton’s dedication to his sport and his work is inspiring, and it is an honor to have him represent the College, the University, and the country.  

To view Haxton’s official Team USA profile, click here.  

To read about other Buckeyes competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics, click here.