In early 2022 Anneliese Williams tested positive for COVID which then triggered Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological autoimmune disease. At the peak of her syndrome she was paralysed from her chest to her toes. Her survival was dependent on breathing and feeding tubes. When she progressed and was preparing for release from the hospital Williams, a lifelong athlete, was introduced to wheelchair basketball. She had a glimpse into how she could carry on the active life she had lived prior to her diagnosis.

Williams exercises on the erg machine during a private CrossFit session at PUSH511 gym in Baltimore, Md., on July 13, 2023.

Williams was first introduced to adaptive athletics in the rehab hospital in 2022. “It felt almost like I could breathe again because I had just lost my whole sense of self,” she said. Her mindset of being trapped in her own body began to shift to “life is possible given my limitations.” However, this was challenged when she left the hospital and was met with few adaptive athletic opportunities in her hometown and a lot of inaccessibility in general. Yearning for a change she moved to Maryland for a summer to live with friends and explore adaptive athletic opportunities.