Howard alumna Sydney Satchell took home a gold medal as a part of the U.S. women’s sitting volleyball team in the 2024 Paralympics at the North Paris Arena. She is the first Howard alum to win gold at an Olympic or Paralympic game, according to Howard University’s Sports Information Director’s office.
Satchell helped the United States to a 3-1 victory against the Republic of China, who they originally faltered against in their first Paralympic meeting this year. The redeeming win against China made Satchell Howard University’s first-ever Paralympic gold medalist.
“Holistically [competing] feels amazing,” Satchell told The Hilltop. “Playing feels like I’m playing for God, family, friends and those who find themselves in sticky situations.”
Playing libero for the team, Satchell contributed to the United States team as they played five games from Aug. 30 to Sept. 7, and a convincing 3-1 dismantling of Brazil propelled the women to the final. The win over China gave the team an overall 4-1 record and a world title.
Satchell’s athletic journey drastically changed in January 2015 after a brutal car accident. As she was heading to work, she slid off of an icy road into a tree, which resulted in the amputation of her leg due to the significant injuries the accident inflicted on her. Satchell soon fell in love with sitting volleyball and became a Women’s Sitting National Team member in 2019. Satchell made her Paralympics debut in this year’s games.
Satchell was formerly an alternative player for the U.S. Women’s Sitting National Team, making her unable to compete and travel with the team for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.
Satchell, age 32, was a member of the Howard University women’s lacrosse team for three years of her undergraduate studies. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2014, obtaining her B.A. in sports management while minoring in psychology.
The Howard University women’s volleyball team influenced Satchell’s decision to play sitting volleyball. Satchell always valued women in sports and fell deeply in love with the team.
Multiple times throughout the season, the athletic director would call her into the office because of her immense excitement and cheering at the games.
“When I wasn’t recovering as quickly as I wanted to, I was getting a competitive itch,” Satchell said. “I looked into Paralympic sports and thought, ‘Let’s try volleyball.’”
Satchell’s first time playing organized volleyball was in 2016 at a training camp. She soon relocated to Edmond, Oklahoma, to begin full-time training with the women’s national team.
“The thing that made the switch from lacrosse to volleyball happen was: once an athlete, always an athlete,” she said.
Satchell emphasized the importance of support, mentorship and faith as she overcame trials and tribulations to become a gold medalist.
“In every overcoming story, if [the person] is being honest, they can’t do it by themselves,” she said. “If anyone can pull themselves out of a dark space or pit, was the pit really that deep?”
She shared that identity was one of the biggest challenges that she had following the amputation of her leg.
“I had friends going to their ‘big girl’ jobs and friends in healthy relationships,” Satchell told The Hilltop. “I didn’t know anyone who was disabled, so for me to be this ball of life, I was thinking, ‘What do I do now?’”
Satchell relies on her faith in God to persevere through obstacles and says that when she’s alone, the only person she has to talk to is God.
“There was one time in the hospital where I had to decide to amputate,” she said. “I was punching my fist to the point where it was hurting the next day. . .I asked [God] urgently and needed an answer on whether or not I should amputate my leg,” Satchell recalled.
“The next morning, I woke up the most peaceful I’ve ever been. It was the peace in my decision to amputate my leg,” she said.
Satchell shared a memory with the Hilltop during the Paris semi-final match.
“There was a point in our semi-final match; we had not won our third set yet, but I started crying a nice river of tears thinking, ‘Wow, God, I’m here!’”
Satchell’s mother, Candace Chester Mafe, Howard University class of 1995, believes that Satchell’s journey to the Paralympics and her success as a gold medalist further pushes her story and purpose of refusing to give up.
“I’m definitely proud of her for her accomplishments and just sticking with it,” Mafe told The Hilltop. “I think more than anything, I’m proud of her for her tenacity, but I’m also incredibly blessed that this is what she accomplished. She wouldn’t have experienced this at all if she had given up.”
Mafe left The Hilltop with a heartfelt message dedicated to Satchell.
“Sydney, you’re an encouragement to others, families and the world,” Mafe said. “Your ability to push through adversity is inspiring and also motivating. It gives people a visual to see that obstacles can be overcome.”
Mafe continuously emphasizes her gratitude, joy and blessed feelings for being Satchell’s mother.
“Things weren’t easy. It started early as childhood; [Sydney] was dyslexic. She had to work hard in so many ways,” Mafe added. “Her character is that of pushing through and dreaming. I am a proud mom. I am a blessed mom. She knows this, but I’ll tell her the world is yours.”
Regarding representation, Satchell says that for her, the goal is to be able to normalize prosthetics and dismantle the stigma surrounding them. She wants to represent what it looks like to overcome an unimaginable accident and unplanned tragedy.
“Representation is always going to be key,” she said. “My hope is that when you hear my name, it’s mixed with Jesus, encouragement and the idea and reality that the sun always shines.”
Howard University Assistant Athletic Director for Media Relations and Sports Information Derek Bryant said that Satchell’s gold medal is an amazing accomplishment for Team USA, Satchell and Howard University.
“For Sydney to be part of this achievement is incredible,” Bryant said. “The Howard community is proud of her; this is a lifelong memory that she will cherish forever.”
Satchell’s advice to young Black female athletes and individuals navigating obstacles is to remember that “you do not have to succumb to what you’ve been through.”
Copy edited by Jalyn Lovelady
