Everytime there is a Paralympic year it is a reminder of how the Paralympics not only changed my life, but made my life.
But it is worth noting I almost didn’t make it to the games because of a mistake and crippling self doubt… when I was about 13 I competed in my first big competition, the NSW State Championships.
My first race at these championships was the 50m breaststroke- a stroke I didn’t feel 100% comfortable swimming, but I was doing it anyway. I was so nervous walking into pool deck, I knew I wanted to be there, but didn’t believe I belonged.
My nerves got the better of me. The gun went off and I dove into the pool and I started swimming freestyle/front crawl… not the breaststroke I was supposed to be swimming!
I realised my mistake and switched to breaststroke, but the mistake was done… I was disqualified immediately.
I remember getting out of the pool distraught, embarrassed and determined to quit swimming.
I felt this one mistake was an indication of failure.
After a talk with my parents, where they gave me permission to give up if I wanted too, I realised the Paralympic dream I had was bigger than any mistake I could ever make. I want a failure because I had stuffed up.
I kept swimming.
I competed at two Paralympic Games, won a silver and two bronze medals, broke world records, held countless national records and proved to myself my ability, my skill, my goals.
I haven’t stopped making mistakes in life. I still get upset when I make mistakes. But what that race, that moment in time taught me was my mistakes didn’t have to define me. In fact, mistakes can be great learning moments… I mean, I never swam breaststroke again after that disastrous race! But that meant I could focus on my real strengths, freestyle and butterfly.
I’m so grateful for the Paralympics, the successes, the mistakes. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today— ABC Sport reporter, keynote speaker, emcee, storyteller.
[Image: a Young white teen girl stands in an Australian sports uniform on pool deck, with a medal around her neck, grinning.]
#Leadership #Resilience #WomenEmpowerment #Paralympics #Keynote #Emcee
Owner, CPS
2 周Gotta luv #square. A call in customer requested a new pool light fixture to be installed. I installed the exact same fixture The customer had previously. It even came with a manufacturers warranty card. Six weeks after the date of install, the customer calls square and said item not as described and disputed the thousand dollar credit card charge. I get an email from Square wanting documentation. I literally furnish all of the documents and I still lost. How is this even possible not to mention how is it legal? Square literally took the thousand dollars out of my account immediately. Hats off to #square