Rhiannon Clarke is a two-time Commonwealth Games medallist, a three-time World Championship medallist and now a dual Paralympian, but that's not how she measures her greatest success.
Rhiannon Clarke is heading to her second Paralympic Games at the age of 22. Rhiannon Clarke will be lining up for Australia in the women's T38 100m at the Paris Paralympics .
She's a two-time Commonwealth Games medallist, a three-time World Championship medallist, and now a dual Paralympian."I definitely feel like one of the older athletes, even though I'm still technically one of the younger ones, especially in the field of my event," Clarke says with a laugh. "I'm lifting the strongest I've ever lifted, I'm running the fastest I've actually ever run, and I'm just happy and enjoying my training. I'm enjoying this path that I'm on, and I'm really excited for these games."Clarke was born with cerebral palsy, which was caused by a lack of oxygen to her brain while developing in the womb.
As a child, Clarke played a lot of sport but did not know the Paralympics existed, let alone was something she could aspire to. It's an experience that will live with her forever, and it was a relationship she built with one of Australia's most successful para-athletes while in camp that has had a lasting impact.AAP Image: Dean Lewins"I actually got to room with Madison de Rozario, so that was a pretty cool, starstruck experience for me," Clarke said.
Part of this has been achieved through building a social media presence, which allows her to attract sponsors, and connect with people who look up to her.ABC News: Nick Martyr"I want to be the person that I didn't really get to see when I was younger in the media, competing on the international stage of sport," she said.
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