Marayke Jonkers Paralympian ”

Marayke Jonkers Marayke Jonkers is a Paralympic medal winning swimmer, paratriathlete and founder of Sporting Dreams, a grants program which helps athletes with disabilities. Marayke’s journey from becoming paraplegic in a car accident as a baby to a three-time Paralympian has inspired people around Australia through her motivational presentations and media appearances. Marayke won a silver and two bronze Paralympic medals as a swimmer, competing at the Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. A former world record holder and current Australian record holder marayke represented Australia for over 10 years breaking over 70 Australian records and winning many international medals. She later switched sports and became Australia's first female paratriathlete and para triathlon medallist when she won bronze at the ITU world championships in Budapest, Hungary. Since retiring from competitive sport due to injury in 2011 Marayke has focused her attention on helping the next generation of athletes with disabilities through the grants scheme she started in 2008 called Sporting Dreams. Sporting dreams provides funds to purchase equipment such as racing wheelchairs. Marayke’s vision is to ensure the next generation of athletes have the same opportunity she has had to enjoy fun fitness and personal development through sport. She has already given grants to 97 promising athletes.

Life outside sport Away from the pool she has two university degrees from the University of the Sunshine Coast, in social science and communications, andachieved high distinction grades. Marayke is in increasingly high demand by corporate audiences as a motivational speaker, and hopes her inspirational story will inspire others to take up sport and follow their dreams. Her outstanding achievements have lead to Marayke winning many awards and accolades. Marayke won Queensland Young Achiever Award in 2005, has twice been a finalist in the Young Australian of the Year Awards and has been an Olympic torch bearer. Marayke was named one of Australia's most inspirational women by Cosmopolitan magazine, being announced as the inaugural winner of the fun fearless female award. She has appeared on television shows including Insight on SBS, Totally Wild on channel 10, and in publications including Cosmopolitan Magazine. Marayke loves a challenge and has tried skydiving, sit skiing, snorkelling, kayaking, camel riding, and has travelled through parts of Europe, the pacific, Asia and the UK enjoying the challenge of taking a wheelchair to some of least accessible areas of the world. Her favourite quote is "you never know what you can do until you try”.

Outstanding Paralympian 2004 & 2008

Sunshine Coast Sport Star Awards Athlete of the month

Athens 2004 Paralympics 50m Breaststroke SB3 bronze medal race

Fast skin My racing outfit is so tight it takes 20 minutes to put on!

Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games

150m Individual Medley

World Swimming Championships 2010

Bachelor of Social Science (2004) Bachelor of Arts (Communications) 2006

Ancient Olympia- where the Olympic Games began

Queensland Young Achiever 2005

Triathlon World Championships

2010 World swimming ChampionshipsAustralian Flag Bearer

Official retirement from sport: Swimmer of the year awards 2012

Sporting Dreams Athletes

How will you change someone’s life through sport?

Which athlete would you rather have join your club? athlete ‘a’ wheelchair user Has had multiple spinal surgeries Overuse injuries in arms Sustained 3 rd degree burns months out from a major competition athlete ‘b’ Australian representative World record breaker National record holder National champion Dedicated to training

Which athlete would you rather have join your club? Let me tell you a secret- they are both the same person, in fact they are both me! The difference is in what you choose to focus on. Fortunately for me my coaches saw me as an elite athlete, and we managed all of those physical challenges- from burns to overuse injuries- throughout my career. For me the most powerful way sport has changed my life has been the way other people see me me. Once upon a time I used to walk down the street and have people ask why are you in a wheelchair- now they ask how my swimming is going or so theyve seen me on TV. Sport has allowed me to transcend a fairly obvious physical disability and become the athlete I dreamt of being that small girl all those years ago. Finally other people see me that I always saw myself. Conclusion How will you change a life through sport, what ever your involvement What will you choose to see, an athlete or their disability? Thank you and please keep in touch!

Photos courtesy Marion Jonkers photography © 2004 Visit me at facebook.com/sportingdreams twitter.com/maraykejonkerswww.sportingdreans.org