How Brett Bolton and Kayden Beasley Turned Adversity Into Triumph at the 2026 Paralympics
Stories
April 2, 2026
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Two athletes, shaped by similar beginnings, turned personal challenges into a defining moment on the world stage.
Both were born in China and later adopted into the United States, where they grew up navigating identity, resilience, and belonging.
At the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, their journeys came full circle as they helped lead Team USA to gold.
Image Source: Team USA Hockey
Brett Bolton’s Journey to the Top
Born in China with a congenital limb difference, Brett Bolton was adopted into the United States at just three years old, growing up in an environment that pushed him to adapt early and often. What could have been limitations became the foundation for resilience, shaping how he approached both life and sport.
That same quiet determination followed him onto the ice, where he carved out a place as a rookie forward for the U.S. sled hockey team. At the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, Bolton didn’t just participate, he rose to the top, helping secure a gold medal and marking a powerful arrival on the global stage.
Image Source: NHL
Kayden Beasley’s Defining Moment
Like Bolton, Kayden Beasley’s story began in China before being adopted into the United States, where he grew up navigating questions of identity alongside his development as an athlete. Over time, discipline on the ice became his anchor, helping him build both physical strength and self-belief.
Years of training led to a defining moment at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, when Beasley delivered a clutch goal in the final. That single play helped seal a gold medal for Team USA, turning years of preparation into a moment that will be remembered on one of sport’s biggest stages.
Image Source: NPR
More Than a Medal: A Shared Story of Representation
At the 2026 Paralympic Games, their journeys intersected in a space that celebrates ability in all its forms. Beyond the competition, their presence highlights a broader shift in how athletes with impairments are seen, valued, and represented.
Their victories go beyond the scoreboard, carrying meaning for communities that rarely see themselves reflected at the highest levels of sport. Together, their stories stand as a reminder that representation is not just about visibility, but about redefining what strength and success look like.
TomoCredit announced that it had raised $22 million in a Series B funding round, giving it a post-money valuation of $222 million.
It has also secured $100 million in debt financing and has raised $39 million in equity since its launch.
The newly acquired funds will be put to use by the corporation in the form of product line expansion, which may include the provision of mortgages and automobile loans.
Kristy Kim founded TomoCredit in 2019 to help international students get credit. Three and a half years later, the fintech no longer focuses just on immigrants but is now also eyeing domestic students and SMBs that want to “build credit fast”. They received 2.5 million applications over time.
TomoCredit provides users credit limits of up to $30,000. It earns revenue from merchant interchange fees, not consumers. It doesn’t require a credit check, a deposit, or an APR.
According to TechCrunch, the firm doesn’t use FICO scores to underwrite, unlike many other credit offerings. Tomo Score, a “proprietary” underwriting algorithm, identifies “high potential borrowers” without credit scores.
“Our customers are not in financial trouble…Once you identify them and give them a card, they spend a lot and don’t default. Our performance has been great and that gave us and our investors the confidence to scale.” Kim told TechCrunch.
Morgan Stanley’s Next Level Fund and Mastercard participated in the equity portion of the deal including GoldHouse, Asian Hustle Network, and Hyphen Capital, while Silicon Valley Bank provided the debt.
Alice Vilma co-manages Morgan Stanley’s Next Level Fund, which invests in early-stage innovation and tech-enabled enterprises with women or diverse founding teams, said that she was amazed by Kim’s ability to recognize a need as a young female immigrant and create a financial product.
“As a first-generation South Korean immigrant, I wanted to help immigrant communities to reach their American Dream faster with TomoCredit,” Kim told TechCrunch. “It has been wonderful to partner with minority-focused funds who truly understand Tomo’s mission.”
You might have heard a tale similar to this one here and there, but for every family who is now going through this — it feels like the beginning of the end.
What more if your father left your family when you were young and just beginning a new life in a foreign place?
Nevertheless, it is utterly devastating that some even end up questioning themselves, “what have I done wrong or what should I have done right?” But eventually, you’ll come to the conclusion that you should just accept it, keep a positive attitude and figure out how to go on living your life without a father figure.
But what if one day your father knocks on your door and asks if he could come back to your family’s life?
Here’s Ai Nguyen, A Life and Business Breakthrough Coach, who shares a powerful story through her voice and experience of her 80-year-old dad.
The Crucial Memory
Last week, I celebrated my dad’s 80th birthday. It was a deeply healing experience for me. Many of you don’t know this, but my dad left our family for another woman when I was around 6 years old, about a year after we had immigrated from Vietnam over to America. Here we are in a strange new country, and then he left us.
One of the last memories I had at that time was that he took me to the bus stop in the morning for school and told me that he was leaving the family and wasn’t coming back. That was it. I came home from school and he was gone.
For decades, I had blocked out this CRUCIAL memory of the bus stop day. It was brought out again during a healing hypnosis session I had last year. While growing up, he would come and visit our family from Guam every few years to attend any huge celebrations such as family weddings.
Here we are in a strange new country, and then he left us.
-Ai nguyen
The Comeback
But then, about 18 years ago, he asked us if he could come back because he was struggling with his business. He was basically going to be homeless if we didn’t take him in.
This was such a stressful time in my life because we had to learn to build a life without him fully being there and then we had to also learn to accept him as he came back. Long story short, when he came back, even though he stayed, he had lost his power in the family.
We weren’t interested in what he had to say. I wasn’t interested in his opinions. Because, honestly, he lost our respect when he left the family. So, we had never celebrated his birthday.
My dad had to learn how to make peace with himself. He practiced Buddhism, spirituality, and yoga to calm his internal state.
Long story short, when he came back, even though he stayed, he had lost his power in the family.
-Ai nguyen
The Celebration of Birthday and Healing
Fast forward to last week, his birthday party, my husband Dave and I flew back to St. Louis, Missouri to celebrate this with my family. My dad has been asking the family for the past year to do a party for him. He had an inkling that he would die soon and it was important for him to experience this. And so we made tons of food and brought the whole family together.
And there was a moment where I caught him feeling super happy, in front of the colorful walls, getting photos taken by me. Like a child’s smile when they are being acknowledged and celebrated. I caught it in the moment and in the photos.
Ai’s father all smiles for his 80th birthday
And all of a sudden..
A deep level of compassion and forgiveness fell into my body.
(As I am writing this, I am CRYING. Nose dripping, wiping my shirt all over my face type of crying)
I suddenly realized that this man is 80 years old. And now he’s finally being celebrated. My heart felt the pain of living in a body for 80 years and not experiencing the greatest, most loving moments in life.
I felt compassion for the pain of him having to forgive himself for his mistakes. I felt compassion for him, probably realizing he could have done more in his lifetime, but he didn’t get to do so. I felt compassion for him for having to release guilt, shame, and resentment over the years. Because death is near, and he simply wants to be acknowledged.
At that moment, I saw the inner child in him; the child who just wants more praise, love, and attention on this special day. And I wish if I had been quicker in my realization, that I had taken more pictures, to make him laugh, and make it even more of a special day for him.
(A moment of regret showed up for me)
I suddenly realized that this man is 80 years old. And now he’s finally being celebrated. My heart felt the pain of living in a body for 80 years and not experiencing the greatest, most loving moments in life.
-ai nguyen
This was the level of compassion that I had prayed for, and I wasn’t ready to fully receive it for many years until I participated in this birthday party.
I got balloons with his favorite celebration colors: red and gold. (Coincidentally, his outfit matched my balloon colors). Intuitively, I knew what he wanted. If my sister had not asked me to be in charge of the balloons and decorations at the last minute, I would have missed out on seeing the joy and happiness in my dad.
It was as though SPIRIT planned all of this to happen FOR ME.
I share this story with you because I want you to know that we all have the opportunity to experience forgiveness and healing. Be present, be open, and compassionate and spirit will give you powerful insights. Life flies by fast. Always celebrate yourself. Find gratitude and greatness in your reality and everything will shift for you!
Lastly, you have the power to turn your pain into your purpose.
Mega Global Corporation began as a fishing vessel in 1975 and is now one of the Philippines’ most successful canned sardine manufacturers. It has 88 ships, two functioning factories, one under development, and two headquarters.
The company’s founder William Lim said that her wife was from a fishing family and his enthusiasm for fishing sparked his successful business – but his entrepreneurial journey wasn’t easy.
Be a risk-taker
He advised taking calculated risks and anticipating outcomes. “When we came up with advertisements, in three to six months, our sales started to improve slowly. You need to spend to build your brand name so people will have confidence in your product,” he told Esquire.
Good Brand Communication
By learning how to communicate effectively to store owners and consumers about your brand, you will be able to differentiate it from its competitors. “Because nobody knew our brand, supermarket owners did not want to accept our products to be on their shelves,” he told Esquire Magazine, he had to personally visit the stores to convince them for a chance to sell their product.
Adapt to the times
Simply abandoning ineffective old methods, and always taking opportunities to improve.
Remain focused on your vision
Never forget what the goal was when starting and always remember what the company stands for. He added that when it comes to making decisions about the company, these guiding principles will serve as the primary motivation and compass. “If you keep changing your focus, you have less time to succeed. You have to put your heart and mind to your vision and never give up, no matter the odds,” he tells Philstar.
One of the leading groups in the food cart industry in the Philippines, Fruitas Holdings Inc., owned by Chinese-Filipino entrepreneur Lester Yu, has expanded its brand portfolio with the acquisition of Ling Nam, a 72-year-old establishment that operates three locations in Manila, Philippines.
Fruitas’ wholly-owned subsidiary Soykingdom bought 100% of LN Banaue Inc. This firm operates Ling Nam restaurants such Peter K. Fung and Wanton Parlor.
Established in the 1950s, Ling Nam has long served authentic Cantonese noodles, congee, and dim sum. Beef Wanton Noodles, along with various other sizzling and mouth-watering dishes, can be found on the menus of restaurants in Manila’s Banawe and T. Alonzo districts in Quezon City.
Yu’s 25+ brand portfolio is one of the assets to be purchased as part of the acquisition. Soykingdom will pay 60% of the acquisition price when the deal closes. The remaining 40% will be paid till March 2023. The acquisition price is less than 10% of Fruitas’ March 31 assets and book value.
Fruitas had 720 stores across the country as of the end of December 2021, according to Bilyonaryo where they provided customers with fresh fruit shakes and juices, lemonade, coolers, milk tea, desserts, meat-filled pastries, soya-based products, baked goods, and lechon.
