Milwaukee area Paralympians back home after playing for Team USA in Paris

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Two Paralympians who grew up in the Milwaukee area are back home in Wisconsin, sharing their story with us - particularly, how wheelchair basketball's taken them on an incredible journey.

Athletes were going hard at the afternoon scrimmage on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.

Emily Oberst, a 2016 Brookfield Central grad, and Jake Williams, a 2009 Greenfield High School grad, both participated in the Paris Paralympics last month for Team USA. The men's team brought home the gold, and the women's team, a silver medal. 

Both suffered heartbreak at a young age, neither one quitting on their love for the sport.

"I always feel like life is more about how you rebound when like bad things happen, and I know that's a basketball reference, but it's really - you can't always control your circumstances or diagnosis," said Oberst. 

"When I got hurt, I really - I mean, I was down but I didn't really feel sorry for myself," Williams said. "I considered myself lucky that I didn't get killed or hurt worse or anything like that, so I think a lot of that's about perspective and how you make of it."

Both say they hope to be part of Team USA again when the next wheelchair basketball Paralympics takes place in 2028 in Los Angeles.