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Hannah Cockroft
hannahHannah began competing in various wheelchair sports when she was in school and ended up winning a silver medal in the seated discus at the UK School Games. The British Paralympics Association held a talent day which was where she first tried an elite racing chair, soon after she began to be coached by a head Paralympics coach at UK Athletics. At the London Games in 2012 she won gold in the 100m T34 event, setting a new Paralympics record in the process, she also won gold in the 200m T34 event. After London she went on to win numerous gold medals at the World and European Championships. In Rio this year she won three gold medals (100m T34, 400m T34 and 800m T34). Hannah was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 2013 for her services to athletics.

Isis Holt
isisipcWhile most 15 year olds were settling back into school work, Isis Holt was winning medals in Rio. Following up her success at the IPC Athletics World Championships in 2015 (she won gold in the 200m T35, setting a new world record in the process) Isis won silver in the 100m T35 and 200m T35 as well as winning bronze in the women’s 4 x 100m relay race. Now that the Games are over she will be heading into year ten back in Australia but her eye is already on the IPC World Championships next year in London.

Martina Caironi
martinacaironiFollowing a motorcycle accident in 2007, Martina had to have her left leg amputated. The following year she began competing in para-athletics (she competes in the long jump, 100m and 200m events in the T42 classification). In 2012 she made her known internationally when she became the first person in her classification to run the 100m in less than 16 seconds. She also won gold in this event at the London Paralympics. She was less successful in the long jump where she finished in 13th place, however she worked hard to improve and at the IPC Athletics World Championships she won gold. She had further success at the European Championships in 2014 and 2016 and in Rio this year she won gold in the 100m and silver in the long jump.

-Michelle O’Brien
Junior Girl
Girl Museum Inc.

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