“Even when bad things happen you have to try to use those bad things in a positive manner and really just take the positive out of it.”- Natalie du Toit
“It’s easy to look at the things of this world to solve our challenges and obstacles in life, but when we submit our lives to Christ, His grace, mercy, peace and love will bring true fulfillment to our lives.” – Bethany Hamilton
Once you are willing to achieve a goal, nothing can stop you. By chasing their dreams, some disabled persons are doing what some able people cannot do. They have taken their destiny into their own hand and living their dreams in the field of sports. Here are 7 famous female athlete with disabilities.
Natalie du Toit
Natalie du Toit is a South African athlete. In 2001, she was hit by a car, which resulted in her left leg being amputated at the knee level. Natalie became the third amputee to qualify for the Summer Olympics.
Jessica Long
Jessica Long is a Russian born American athlete. She is one of the most coveted amputee athletes in the sports. Jessica had both legs amputated when she was a child due to fibular hemimelia. With her disability, she holds 13 world records in Paralympic events.
Alana Nichols
Alana became disabled by doing what she loves best. She is an American snowboarder who had a snowboarding accident in 2000. This got her paralysed from the waist down. Alana later switched to basketball in the Paralympics. During the 2010 Winter Paralympic Games, she won two gold medals for alpine skiing.
Melissa Stockwell
Melissa wasn’t born with a disability but had that through war. She is an award winning American Paratriathelete. Melissa lost one of her legs during the Iraqi war. Nonetheless, she didn’t allow her disability to be an ability. In 2010 and 2011, she was adjudged the USAT Paratriathlete for both years.
Chelsea McClammer
Chelsea McClammer is an American and a member of the Paralympic team. At age six, he was involved in a car accident rendering her paralyzed from the waist down. However, she took sports as a career and in 2008; she became the youngest member of the U.S.’s Paralympic team. During the 2008 Bloomsday Road Race in Spokane, Wash, she made a new female course record.
Tatyanna McFadden
She is a famous Russian born American athlete. She had spina bifida, which paralyzed her from the waist down. Nonetheless, she has competed and won several medals in Summer and Winter Paralympics. Her medals cuts across track and field country skiing.
Bethany Hamilton
At age 13, a shark attacked Bethany while she was surfing in 2003. Her left hand was badly severed during the attack. However, that did not deter her as she started entering into competitions in 2004. During that time, she used a customised board with a handle. She has since won medals in several competitions.
To Know About : 7 Famous Male Athletes with Disabilities
