KENDALL BALDWIN

Photographer, Documentarian, Podcaster

At just 16 years old, Arelle Middleton stood on the podium at the Paris Paralympic Games. But her path to the top was anything but simple. My Foot Touched the Floor dives deep into her day-to-day journey as an elite athlete, from rigorous training to cross-country trips for vital limb-lengthening care. Catch the premiere this fall on Spectrum News 1 as Arelle prepares for her next chapter: LA28.

Perseverance and Purpose in ParalympicsUSC Class of 2025 · Episode

SILVER AT 16

Produced by Kendall Baldwin

At just 16-years-old, Arelle Middleton had already made her mark on the world stage of Paralympic sport. She became the youngest member of Team USA to compete at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games—earning a silver medal in women’s shot put F44. This year, she qualified for the LA28 Paralympic games when she took gold at the World Para Athletic Championships in India. Middleton was born with Congenital Femoral Deficiency, a condition that made her left leg about six inches shorter than the other. Her obstacles have become her motivation. In this episode, Arelle opens up about the pain, perseverance and purpose behind her success, and how she leaned on support outside of the Paralympic space to find herself.

STEPPING UP

Video Produced by Kendall Baldwin

I worked with a fantastic group of reporters to create a multimedia story examining LA’s Major League Soccer scene. A significant part of the clubs’ fan bases here are Latino. We asked community members how recent ICE raids have impacted game attendance within support sections.