Many in the Yankton Community may recognize Yankton High School Senior Miles Krajewski from his exploits as a member of the Bucks Golf and Tennis teams, or as a manager for the Bucks Basketball team. However, many may not know that Krajewski is one of the top-ranked Short-Stature Para-Badminton players in the world and is a 2024 Paralympic hopeful.
Krajewski, who currently ranks 7th in the world in men’s singles and is also top-10 in mixed doubles alongside his duo partner Jayci Simon, said that his badminton journey started as a kid at the World Dwarf Games.
Krajewski said that he missed the 2020 Paralympics by a single spot, but is confident that this year he can make it to Paris. Krajewski explained that there are multiple ways to qualify for this year’s Paralympic games for the short stature classification.
Krajewski spoke highly of his mixed duo partner Jayci Simon, saying she was one of the most athletic people at the 2017 World Dwarf Games when they met and that when they started training together for badminton they clicked right away on the court.
While preparing for a future Paralympic bid, Krajewski has acquired multiple accolades in recent memory. Back in November of 2023, Krajewski claimed the top spot for his class at the Para Pan-American Games in Santiago, Chile. As the calendar turned to 2024, Krajewski was honored again, as he was voted as the Pan-American para-badminton player of the year following a fan vote earlier this month.
Krajewski was thankful for the recognition, saying “It was an honor just to be nominated by Badminton Pan Am. It was a public vote for this award so I am really humbled that so many people voted for me.”
Krajewski, who won the vote over Vitor Tavares, Giuliana Poveda, and Rubi Fernandez, spoke highly of his fellow competitors saying “I’ve known Giuliana, Rubi, and Vitor a long time, and have played against them many times. They are all great players not only in the Pan Am region but also on the world stage.”
Krajewski himself has taken the world stage throughout his career, as competitions have allowed him to travel to multiple countries around the globe. Krajewski narrowed down both England and Chile as two of his favorite places to compete so far.
With the ultimate goal of a 2024 Paralympic bid still on the horizon, Krajewski has turned his attention to another trip overseas for the upcoming Para-Badminton World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand, beginning on February 20th. Krajewski says he’s excited for the opportunity to push himself at the event.
No matter the results of the upcoming World Championships or a Paralympic bid, Krajewski has already left an impression on many in the Yankton community.
Yankton Bucks Head Golf Coach Brett Sime expressed his pleasure with being able to coach Miles over the years, stating “I have enjoyed all my years working with Miles on the Yankton Bucks boys’ golf team. He is a great competitor, athlete, and teammate. Miles has a wonderful personality which makes it easy to get along with others. I believe this is why I have heard many golfers throughout the state be excited when they get to play with Miles. I wish Miles the best of luck in all he does.”
The 2024 Para-Badminton World Championships in Pattaya, Thailand will take place from February 20th through 25th. Krajewski will compete in both singles and doubles formats during the event, and a great showing could punch his ticket to this year’s Paralympic Games in Paris.
In a town like Yankton, which has a rich athletic history at all levels, Miles Krajewski could write the next chapter in that story and achieve a lifelong dream by soon adding Paralympian to his already impressive resume.
