Kelly Cartwright - Paralympic golden girl

In light of the 2012 London Paralympics happening right at this moment i cannot go without mentioning how inspiring these athletes and coaches are! Why is the paralympics not featured as much as the other Olympics?? With my love of athletics i would like to introduce you to one inspiring young lady competing in the 100m and long jump in the London Paralympic games 2012, and you know what? She just won gold in the long jump today complete with a world record jump!!! Way to go Kelly!!

Disability  - Above right knee limb loss
How acquired - Cancer, chemotherapy resistant synovial sarcoma
Date of Birth - Sat, 22/04/1989
Occupation - Receptionist
Started Competing -  2007
First Competed for Australia - 2008
Games Experience - Beijing 2008, London 2012
Heroes - Tim Matthews (coach)
Career Highlights - 
2011 World Championships - WR in long jump on the way to gold and winning gold in the 100m
Greatest Moment - Cathy Freeman winning 400m gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympics

When Kelly Cartwright was 15, she was forced to make a difficult decision when cancer was discovered in her leg. Unable to have chemotherapy, she had no choice but to have her leg amputated, turning her world upside down.

Going through high school, Kelly’s prosthetic leg has created some amusing situations. Her friends rallied around her to raise $40,000 for a carbon fibre running leg. She says it always sends off the x-ray alarm at airports and after leaving her leg behind at a party, she was shocked to discover it later that night being used as a beer glass. Getting the smell out was difficult.

Growing up Kelly was always involved in sport and before her operation was a promising netballer, winning several best and fairest awards. But no longer able to play netball at an advanced level, Kelly turned her attention to running and soon fell in love with it.

Kelly’s climb to the top of her class in athletics has been a steady one. In 2007, her proudest moment was running for the first time with her proper running prosthesis without falling over. Then in 2008, she competed in her first Paralympic Games in Beijing and finished sixth in the 100m.

In 2009, Kelly moved training squads to be coached by multiple Paralympic gold medallist Tim Matthews. The change proved to be a success with Kelly breaking the 200m world record and the 100m Australian record during the 2009 Oceania Paralympic Championships. Then in 2011, she made her mark on the international athletics scene by winning two gold medals (100m and long jump) at the IPC Athletics World Championships and breaking the world record in the long jump, which she now sees as her proudest moment. In 2012, she added two more world records to her name, breaking the 200m world mark at the Adelaide Track Classic and the 100m at the Australian Athletics Championships.

Away from the track, Kelly is an ambassador for the APC and the Make-a-Wish Foundation. In August 2009, Kelly achieved the extraordinary feat of successfully reaching the summit of Mt Kilimanjaro. When at home, Kelly loves to cook and chill out with her Burmese cat, who is also an amputee.

Evan with an aggressive cancer, an amputation and facing major hurdles in her life in Kelly's mind there is NO EXCUSE and EVERY REASON to continue to reach her goals! 

A little closer to home i met a young man of 25 who had a similar situation and had a below knee amputation due to a bone cancer missed for 5 years in his foot. Now 8 months later he is using a prosthetic joint and hope to be running again soon to play his sports and get back to work, his goals are just as important and he is just as determined and just as inspiring.... I will not complain of an aching leg after a hard work out at the gym or long run again, i am fortunate enough to have that limb to feel the work i can do to it!!