Saskatoon cyclist Shawna Ryan set for Rio 2016 Paralympic Games

Saskatoon's Shawna Ryan is visually impaired but that doesn't stop her from spending hours in her basement logging kilometre after kilometre on a cycling trainer.

That dedication to sport is paying off.Ryan will ride in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

"I'm extremely excited, but at the same time trying to remain calm," she told CBC Radio's Saskatoon Morning. "We really try to focus on that mental, spiritual, positive outlook."

• Full CBCRio 2016ParalympicGamescoverage here
• Visually impairedcyclist races towards 2016 Paralympics

Ryan will draw on her experience to find that calm.This is not her first trip to the Games.In Beijing in 2008, she competed in women's goalball, a team sport specifically designed for blind athletes. Team Canada placed fifth.

It was after getting married and having children that the drive to compete pushed Ryan to switch gears and take up cycling in hopes of reaching the Olympics once again. Her sport now is tandem cycling, where she works with a pilot who steers their way around the track.

"I know a lot of people think maybe I'm just back there having a great ride, but no, I'm working extremely hard, as is she, to propel that bike as fast as we can," said Ryan.

Help behind the scenes

As Ryan gets set to make the journey to Rio, she is quick to thank all of the people who helped support her, allowing her to spend all of those hours in the basement, in the weight room, and out of the road. She said it is her family, friends and employer who helped make it happen.

All this success as a world-class athlete comes as a bit of surprise to Ryan. As a child,she really wasn't encouraged to play sports. Thankfully she said things have changed.

"People with disabilities and visual impairments have that same fitness capacity that anybody else does, they just need to be provided the opportunities."