Just weeks before the Paralympics begin, four First Nations Paralympians have been announced in the squad. We hear from the youngest competitor.
What's next?On a cold winter's night at an athletic track south of Sydney, 16-year-old Telaya Blacksmith is preparing for her Paralympic Games debut."It's quite hard, it's difficult, but you've got to get the job done eventually," she explains.
Just as Olympians Cathy Freeman and Nova Peris have been role models for her, she wants to be a role model to other teenagers. "When we lived in Dubbo, she did the school carnival and she kept beating everybody, so we decided to put our kids into little athletics and it went from there.Teen to take on 30-year-olds in ParisAt 14 she won the 100m race at the Virtus Oceania Asia Games in Brisbane, and last year represented Australia at the Virtus Global Games in Vichy, France.
Paralympics isn't an excuse to get out of school, Telaya Blacksmith says she'll have homework still to do but she remains focused on her goal.
First Nations Paralympians Telaya Blacksmith
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
A new start after 60: I retired from teaching – and became a blacksmithJulian Lee was ready for a fresh challenge after a lifetime in specialist education. So he built a forge, installed an anvil and set to work creating some very special knives
Read more »
Paris Olympics: Australian hockey player arrested in Paris allegedly trying to buy cocaineAn Australian hockey player has been arrested in Paris, the Australian Olympic Committee has confirmed.
Read more »
Paris Olympics: Matt Ebden and John Peers tackle US singles guns in Paris medal chaseAustralian tennis veterans John Peers and Matt Ebden must beat American singles stars Tommy Paul and Taylor Fritz to win an Olympic tennis doubles medal.
Read more »
Two weeks to save the Games – can Paris 2024 restore the dream factory?On Friday the Olympics swing into full action, but can the spectacle still drown the detail, cost, greed and waste?
Read more »
Waiting game ends as Paris Olympics begin amid high Australian expectationsSurpassing the nation’s record of 17 golds would not be a surprise at these Games but talk of medal tallies is being hosed down inside the camp
Read more »
Women’s parity in sport has a long way to go despite positive Paris signsFrom research into ACL injuries to a low number of female coaches, much more is needed to support women in sport
Read more »