At 8pm (BST) this evening the 14th edition of the Paralympic Games will be declared open in London. Today’s Complexd Women presents female paralympic athletes who epitomise the term Complexd Woman.
Stefanie Reid – Great Britain
Stefanie Reid’s multicultural upbringing gives her the option to compete for three countries, but for the London Olympics she will be representing Great Britain as the only female amputee sprinter in the 100m, 200m and Long Jump. She lost her right foot in a boating accident aged 16 and her life was saved by a surgeon in Toronto who managed to stem the blood flow through amputation. She is currently completing a Masters in Nutrition and also has a degree in Biochemistry.
‘Lately, I have noticed people referring to me as an Olympic athlete. I am proud to be a Paralympian, and every time you refer to me as an Olympian, you are chipping away at the Paralympic movement. I am honoured to be a Paralympian and I see no shame in the term’
Terezinha Guilhermina – Brazil
Terezinha Guilhermina is a visually impaired Brazilian Paralympic athlete who is the world-record holder in the 100m, 200m and 400m (classification T11). One of twelve brothers and sisters, four of which are also visually impaired, she was born into poverty and had to borrow her sisters trainers to take part in local running competitions. After winning gold in Beijing, she is the undisputed fastest female Paralympian and was able to buy her father a new house.
‘I used to always say I wanted to be the world’s best when I was a child. If I were a police officer, I wanted to be the best. If I were a garbage collector, I would be the best. So, when I saw the track in front of me, I told myself I wanted to be the world’s best athlete. Every coach that would show up to train me, I would say, ’can you train me to break the world record?’ They would tell me that I was dreaming too high’.
Kelly Cartwright – Australia
Kelly Cartwright is an ambassador of the Australian Paralympic committee and will compete in 100m (classification T42) and Long Jump (classification F42). At the age of 15 Kelly chose amputation for her best chance of survival after being diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer in her right knee. In August 2009, Kelly achieved the extraordinary feat of successfully reaching the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro.
‘Climbing Kilimanjaro was the hardest and toughest challenge I have ever set for myself, both mentally and physically. I’m a stronger person both on and off the track because of it and it made me feel as though I can achieve anything I want and that I am able to push myself to the limit’
Tatyana McFadden – USA
Wheelchair racer Tatyana McFadden was born with an underdeveloped spinal cord that left her paralyzed below the waist. An unwanted disable child, her upper body strength in her arms developed after spending the first six years of her life in a Russian orphanage that didn’t have any wheelchair facilities. In 1994, she was adopted by an American woman who encouraged her to take up various sports activities. Nine years later she became the youngest member of the U.S. Paralympic track and field team in Athens. Off the track Tatyana is pursuing a degree in Human Development and Family Studies at the University of Illinois, and works as a national advocate for equal access for people with disabilities.
