Paralympics | SMAHeadlines.com

Wenona pupils learn life lesson from Karni Liddell

September 6, 2012

Mosman-Daily | September 2, 2012 | By Simone Roberts

WENONA students learned a valuable lesson in overcoming adversity from Australian Paralympic swimmer Karni Liddell.

The bronze medallist shared the story of her triumph over spinal muscular atrophy with students.

“I was born missing a few little muscles and my parents were told I wouldn’t walk or crawl,” she told the girls. Refusing to accept defeat, her father created a walking frame for Karni and she learned to walk.

With her competitive spirit, she honed her strengths in swimming to compete at the Paralympic Games in 1996 and 2000, where she won bronze medals.

“It doesn’t matter what body I have been given, what family I am from, where I was born, or how much money I have got. You can do whatever you want with your life,” she said.

Read the article by clicking HERE or on the image below.

3 Comments | Australia, Inspiration, Paralympics, sports | Tagged: australia, inspiration, paralympics, sports | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

Paralympics: Boccia player Nurul charts game and life with her mind

August 28, 2012

channelnewsasia.com | August 23, 2012 | By Leong Wai Kit

SINGAPORE: 1984 is a special year for Nurulasyiqah Mohd Taha. It was the year she was born, as well as that of the Paralympic sport she’ll be representing Singapore in, at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The ball-tossing game of Boccia from Greece was introduced 28 years ago as a Paralympic sport specifically designed for athletes with a disability affecting locomotor functions.

The aim of the game is to toss a collection of balls as close as possible to a white ball known as the jack.

Nurul qualified for the Paralympics last December, becoming the first para-athlete to represent Singapore in that sport.

Born with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 (SMA II), Nurul’s condition causes nerve cell loss in her spinal cord which in turn limits muscle movement.

So instead of tossing, players in Nurul’s BC3 category use assistive devices to launch the balls.

Click HERE or on the image below to read more…

9 Comments | Adapted Equipment, Inspiration, Paralympics, Singapore, sports | Tagged: adapted equipment, inspiration, paralympics, singapore | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

Paralympian launches Red Shield Appeal

May 12, 2011

Paralympian launches Red Shield Appeal

Port Macquarie News | May 13, 2011

AN INSPIRATIONAL Paralympian will arrive in town next week to help launch The Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal.

Diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at birth, Karni Liddell defied doctors’ expectations that she would live past her teenage years and went on to become a Paralympic swimmer.

Port Macquarie-Hastings Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal business committee chairman Glen Towle said he hoped as many people as possible would attend the breakfast to support the organisation and hear Ms Liddell speak.

“She’s an outstanding, high-quality presenter who has an amazing, inspirational story to tell,” Mr Towle said.

Click HERE or on the image below to read more…

1 Comment | Australia, Inspiration, Paralympics | Tagged: australia, inspiration, paralympics | Permalink
Posted by stronwi

Support Plea From Paralympics Hopeful

January 13, 2011

Support Plea From Paralympics Hopeful

Times & Star | January 13, 2011

A COCKERMOUTH teenager is appealing to the community for sponsorship to help him train for the Paralympics in 2012.

IN THE SWIM: Swimmer Grant Taylor, 16, is a member of Cockermouth Swimming Club and hopes to qualify for the Paralympics in 2012Grant Taylor, 16, of Derwent Mills, has been swimming for two years and is being coached by Cockermouth Swimming Club’s Sean Balmer.

Grant, a year 11 pupil at Cockermouth School, who was diagnosed with a rare condition – distal spinal muscular atrophy – when he was 10 years old, said he needs the funding to help pay for his travel costs and training equipment.

Click HERE or on the image below to read more…