HAVE you seen the trailer on Channel 4 Superhumans? This trailer showcases the skills of our Paralympians as they get ready to participate in what is probably, the biggest event of their lives. It has great production, a fabulous build-up and a wonderfully talented showcase that highlights, quite clearly, what can be achieved.
This advert must change the perception and culture that surrounds disability. It’s not fluffy, it doesn’t ask you for a pat on the head or to put a penny in the tin; it is not looking for the sympathy vote. It excites you, intrigues you and, if you are like me, makes you feel hugely inadequate.
You cannot help but be in awe of this elite group of people, who although they are faced with extreme adversity in their daily lives, are succeeding in a very demanding arena.
Having worked hard to achieve a level of success that is measured through their selection to the Rio Olympics, they have now also broken down so many barriers and misconceptions in regard to disability. That in itself should, without a doubt, help to alleviate a prejudice that society has accepted and perpetuated for far too long.
Twenty-eight Scots are included in the final selection and amongst that number, eight female athletes. Do you know their names or the sport they are participating in? If you think that coverage of female athletes was in short supply, try multiplying that to a female athlete with a disability!
So let me take a moment or two just to highlight just a couple of the chosen few to you. Robyn Love – wheelchair basketball. If you attended the SWiS conference in 2015, you would know who Robyn Love is: She stole the show. Robyn is the girl with the big personality whom everyone fell in love with. Robyn is full of passion and has an immense sense of fun and was one of the participants in the debate “Transition from the sporting world to the working world”.
During this debate, John Stewart, director of HR at SSE, explained the characteristics he looked for in an employee. He stressed the benefits that being involved in sport instilled in a potential employee. Robyn was quick to point out, on several occasions, that she fitted the brief and had all of the characteristics through her own participation in sport, and yes, she was looking for a job! Yosser Hughes didn’t have a look in – “Gimme a job I can do that”, is now Robyn’s catchphrase and I must add, she is much too young to understand this comparison.
Abby Kane is a swimmer who attends Largs Academy. Her focus was initially on Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics. However the hard work, determination and stamina she has applied on a daily basis to succeed at this sport, which is unthinkable to most of us, has paid dividends and accelerated achieving her dream. What’s more, we cannot help but be inspired when you realise that she is only 12 years old.
Maria Lyle, who was a winner at the 2015 SWiS annual awards lifting the sportscotland young sportswomen of the year award, has also booked her place in the squad alongside Jo Butterfield, both from athletics. Adding to that are cyclists Hannah Dines and Karen Darke and making up the total of eight, are triathletes, Alison Patrick and Hazel Smith.
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