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✨Arkansas × Texas Para Twirl ✨

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2026 IBTF World Freestyle & Rhythmic Twirl Championship & Nations Cup #paratwirl #usbatontwirling #ibtf_batontwirling #twirlanyway #teamusa 💙❤️🤍✨🇺🇸 Why Jennifer Kotzur is a ParaTwirl Athlete 🤍❤️💙

Jennifer Kotzur is a ParaTwirl athlete because she lives with lasting physical and neurological challenges following a serious motor-vehicle accident. Jennifer has publicly shared that she was T-boned in a car accident, sustaining physical injuries as well as a traumatic brain injury (TBI). Her recovery included approximately eight months of physical therapy, and she described having to work on her speech, memory, walking, and even relearning how to twirl.

Jennifer was already an accomplished baton twirler before her accident. Her extensive career included serving as a feature twirler at Stockdale High School, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, and Howard Payne University, along with numerous state, national, collegiate, and international accomplishments.

Her journey back to baton twirling demonstrates exactly why adaptive and ParaTwirl opportunities matter: an acquired disability or neurological injury does not erase the athlete who existed before it. Instead, the athlete learns to adapt, recover, and perform in a new way.

In 2026, Jennifer was one of two U.S. athletes selected to participate in the IBTF ParaTwirl demonstration during Nations Cup in Paris, France.

Jennifer twirled before her injury. She fought to relearn how to walk and twirl after her injury. And she continues to show that disability does not mean the end of athletic achievement. 🇺🇸✨ taken in Arena Grand Paris by @twirlanyway

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2 months ago

2026 IBTF World Freestyle & Rhythmic Twirl Championship & Nations Cup @lindseystirling @halestormrocks @lzzyhale #paratwirl #usbatontwirling #ibtfbatontwirling #twirlanyway #teamusa ❤️💙🤍✨🇺🇸 Thank you, @footlights_dance_store!!! 🥰 Why Laura is a ParaTwirl Athlete 🤍❤️💙

Laura is a ParaTwirl athlete because she has permanent physical impairments resulting from a traumatic accident at age 18 that caused a partial amputation of her left hand, permanently affecting grip, dexterity, hand function, and the way she manipulates and catches a baton. She also lives with lasting neurological and musculoskeletal impairments that require adaptations when performing the sport.

Laura was a competitive baton twirler before her accident and returned to twirling after her accident at the collegiate level. Continuing meant adapting and relearning releases, catches, transitions, and choreography to accommodate her physical differences.

ParaTwirl is not about doing less—it is about creating an inclusive pathway for athletes with disabilities to demonstrate their athleticism, artistry, and abilities.

Laura twirled before her accident. She twirled after her accident at the collegiate level. And today, she continues to TwirlAnyway. 🇺🇸✨ taken in Arena Grand Paris by @twirlanyway

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2 months ago

There are moments you know you will carry with you forever. 🇫🇷🇺🇸✨

For me, this was that moment.

During the Opening Ceremony in France, the ParaTwirl athletes were honored with the incredible privilege of helping present the IBTF flag. My eyes welled up with tears because, of everything that happened during this extraordinary week, this was the most moving moment for me.

This wasn’t simply about carrying a flag. It was about being seen, being included, and being given a place of honor on an international stage.

I have loved baton twirling for so much of my life—before my accident, after my accident, through collegiate twirling, and now as a ParaTwirl athlete representing the United States. Watching ParaTwirl athletes stand there with the IBTF flag felt like witnessing another door open for athletes with disabilities in the sport we love.

France, you made this moment incredibly special. You showed what inclusion can look like when it isn’t simply spoken about, but demonstrated.

Well done, Team France. 🇫🇷👏

Thank you for honoring ParaTwirl, for recognizing our athletes, and for giving us a moment I will never forget.

This is why we #TwirlAnyway. ❤️🤍💙 -Laura #paratwirl #ibtf_batontwirling #twirlanyway taken in Arena Grand Paris by @twirlanyway

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2 months ago

by @twirlanyway

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2 months ago

🇺🇸 US PARA TWIRL | SETTING THE STANDARD ✨CHARACTER MATTERS✨

There is a troubling trend on social media—the use of online platforms to smear, harass, bully, intimidate, defame, or intentionally damage the reputation of others. This behavior has no place in athletics, and it has no place in US Para Twirl.

As ParaTwirl athletes, coaches, families and supporters, we have an opportunity to represent something much bigger than ourselves. Our character matters just as much as our performance. How we treat fellow athletes, coaches, officials, organizations and members of our community—both in person and online—reflects the values of our sport.

US Para Twirl expects its community to rise above online hostility and lead by example. Substantiated harassment, cyberbullying, malicious targeting, threats, defamatory conduct, smear campaigns, or encouraging third parties to engage in this behavior are inconsistent with the standards we are working to establish.

Legitimate concerns should be addressed through the appropriate organizational, safeguarding, legal, or professional channels—not through public attacks or social-media campaigns. Good-faith reporting of legitimate safety or misconduct concerns should always be protected.

ParaTwirl represents inclusion, resilience, opportunity and respect. If we want this sport to continue growing, we must create the culture we want future athletes to inherit.

We rise above it. We protect one another. We compete with integrity. We set the standard.

Talent can make someone an athlete.
Character determines the athlete and teammate you become.

🇺🇸 Different Abilities. Same Sport. One Team.
❤️ Respect • 🤍 Integrity • 💙 Sportsmanship • ⭐ Character

#USParaTwirl #ParaTwirl #BatonTwirling #AthleteSafety #Sportsmanship CharacterMatters by @twirlanyway

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2 months ago

As ParaTwirl athletes, we got to jump right in and participate in the Opening Ceremony flash mob alongside twirlers from around the world—and we had an absolute BLAST! 🌎❤️ #paratwirl #ibtf_batontwirling #twirlanyway #usbatontwirling taken in Arena Grand Paris by @twirlanyway

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2 months ago

2026 World Freestyle and Rhythmic Twirl Championship & Nations Cup – Day 1 Para Twirl Awards Ceremony ✨#paratwirl #usbatontwirling #twirlanyway #teamusa #ibtf_batontwirling taken in Arena Grand Paris by @twirlanyway

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2 months ago

Athlete’s Festival #paratwirl #ibtfbatontwirling #usbatontwirling #twirlanyway #teamusa 🤍❤️💙🇺🇸✨ 🇺🇸 WHY LAURA BARKLEY & JENNIFER KOTZUR ARE PARATWIRL ATHLETES ❤️🤍💙

Two athletes. Two different journeys. One shared purpose: showing that baton twirling has a place for athletes of all abilities.

Laura Barkley is a ParaTwirl athlete because she has a permanent physical disability resulting from a serious car accident at age 18 that caused the partial amputation of her left hand.

Laura began baton twirling at age 12 and competed throughout high school, eventually becoming captain of her majorette line. She was a twirler before her accident and continued twirling after her accident at the collegiate level, learning to adapt her technique to a permanent upper-extremity difference.

Today, Laura is a Certified Hand Therapist and pediatric occupational therapist, bringing both lived experience with disability and professional expertise in rehabilitation and adaptation to her advocacy for ParaTwirl.

Jennifer Kotzur is a ParaTwirl athlete following a serious car accident in which she sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and was subsequently diagnosed with PTSD.

Baton twirling has been a constant throughout Jennifer’s life. During her 28-year twirling career, she became a collegiate twirler at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, Howard Payne University, and Keiser University and competed internationally, including at the 2009 International Cup in Sydney, Australia and 2011 Pan Pacific Cup.

Jennifer’s experiences also led her into the field of adaptive sports education. She is completing her PhD dissertation in Curriculum and Instruction and Leadership in Adaptive Sports education programming, bringing both an athlete’s perspective and academic expertise to the development of inclusive sport. taken in Paris, France by @twirlanyway

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2 months ago

Team USA Nation Cup & Para Twirl Welcome Party 2026 ✨❤️🇺🇸 #usbatontwirling #twirlanyway #paratwirl #teamusa #ibtfbatontwirling 🇺🇸 WHY LAURA BARKLEY & JENNIFER KOTZUR ARE PARATWIRL ATHLETES ❤️🤍💙

Two athletes. Two different journeys. One shared purpose: showing that baton twirling has a place for athletes of all abilities.

Laura Barkley is a ParaTwirl athlete because she has a permanent physical disability resulting from a serious car accident at age 18 that caused the partial amputation of her left hand.

Laura began baton twirling at age 12 and competed throughout high school, eventually becoming captain of her majorette line. She was a twirler before her accident and continued twirling after her accident at the collegiate level, learning to adapt her technique to a permanent upper-extremity difference.

Today, Laura is a Certified Hand Therapist and pediatric occupational therapist, bringing both lived experience with disability and professional expertise in rehabilitation and adaptation to her advocacy for ParaTwirl.

Jennifer Kotzur is a ParaTwirl athlete following a serious car accident in which she sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and was subsequently diagnosed with PTSD.

Baton twirling has been a constant throughout Jennifer’s life. During her 28-year twirling career, she became a collegiate twirler at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, Howard Payne University, and Keiser University and competed internationally, including at the 2009 International Cup in Sydney, Australia and 2011 Pan Pacific Cup.

Jennifer’s experiences also led her into the field of adaptive sports education. She is completing her PhD dissertation in Curriculum and Instruction and Leadership in Adaptive Sports education programming, bringing both an athlete’s perspective and academic expertise to the development of inclusive sport. taken in Paris, France by @twirlanyway

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2 months ago

Monday Practice for Team USA Para Twirl Exhibition…thank you @sweet.tees.llc for our Team USA shirts!!! ❤️✨🇺🇸 #twirlanyway #usbatontwirling #ibtfbatontwirling #teamusa 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 #paratwirl 🇺🇸 WHY LAURA BARKLEY & JENNIFER KOTZUR ARE PARATWIRL ATHLETES ❤️🤍💙

Two athletes. Two different journeys. One shared purpose: showing that baton twirling has a place for athletes of all abilities.

Laura Barkley is a ParaTwirl athlete because she has a permanent physical disability resulting from a serious car accident at age 18 that caused the partial amputation of her left hand.

Laura began baton twirling at age 12 and competed throughout high school, eventually becoming captain of her majorette line. She was a twirler before her accident and continued twirling after her accident at the collegiate level, learning to adapt her technique to a permanent upper-extremity difference.

Today, Laura is a Certified Hand Therapist and pediatric occupational therapist, bringing both lived experience with disability and professional expertise in rehabilitation and adaptation to her advocacy for ParaTwirl.

Jennifer Kotzur is a ParaTwirl athlete following a serious car accident in which she sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and was subsequently diagnosed with PTSD.

Baton twirling has been a constant throughout Jennifer’s life. During her 28-year twirling career, she became a collegiate twirler at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi, Howard Payne University, and Keiser University and competed internationally, including at the 2009 International Cup in Sydney, Australia and 2011 Pan Pacific Cup.

Jennifer’s experiences also led her into the field of adaptive sports education. She is completing her PhD dissertation in Curriculum and Instruction and Leadership in Adaptive Sports education programming, bringing both an athlete’s perspective and academic expertise to the development of inclusive sport. taken in Paris, France by @twirlanyway

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2 months ago

🇺🇸 See you in Paris! 🇫🇷✨https://usabatontwirling.com/u-s-athletes-to-participate-in-ibtf-paratwirl-demonstration-during-nations-cup/ We are incredibly proud to announce that Team USA ParaTwirl will be represented at the International Baton Twirling Federation (IBTF) ParaTwirl Demonstration during the Nations Cup in Paris, France this August!

The U.S. Baton Twirling Association has officially featured our athletes, Laura Barkley and Jennifer Kotzur, recognizing not only their inspiring personal journeys but also this historic milestone for adaptive baton twirling.

This demonstration is about so much more than a performance. It represents inclusion, resilience, and the beginning of expanded opportunities for athletes with disabilities in baton twirling around the world. Every athlete deserves the opportunity to experience the joy, artistry, and community of our sport.

Laura and Jennifer will proudly represent the United States while showcasing the strength, determination, and talent of the ParaTwirl community on the international stage.

A heartfelt thank you to the U.S. Baton Twirling Association, the International Baton Twirling Federation, and everyone who has supported the growth of ParaTwirl. Your belief in adaptive athletes is helping shape the future of our sport.

This is only the beginning.

🇺🇸❤️ We hope you’ll follow our journey to Paris and cheer on Team USA ParaTwirl as we make history together! Link in bio. #ibtfbatontwirling #usbatontwirling #usta #teamusa #paratwirl by @twirlanyway

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3 months ago

Jenn has an incredible gift for choreography. She doesn’t just create routines—she adapts them so they truly fit the athlete. In ParaTwirl, every twirler has unique abilities, and Jenn has a remarkable talent for finding each person’s strengths and building routines that showcase them.

She also knows exactly how to challenge you just enough to help you grow. Every practice pushes me to become a stronger athlete while still making the process fun and encouraging.

One of the coolest parts? We’re creating our Team USA pairs routine entirely through Google Meet! Even though we’re miles apart, technology is allowing us to collaborate, learn, make adjustments in real time, and continue building something we’re both proud of.

ParaTwirl is all about innovation, inclusion, teamwork, and proving that distance—and disability—don’t have to limit what’s possible.

Thank you, Jenn, for your creativity, patience, and belief in what ParaTwirl can become. I’m so excited to share our routine with everyone in Paris! ❤️🤍💙#usbatontwirling #paratwirl #twirlanyway #teamusa #ibtf_batontwirling by @twirlanyway

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4 months ago