Lizzie’s Story
I was born in Worthing, England with Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), which is a collagen deficiency that results in “brittle bones” (OI’s common name), as well as problems with connective tissues like muscles, cartilage, etc. Despite these challenges, I have always been involved in sports. I started as a swimmer and was eventually scouted as a para-swimmer, where I trained alongside other incredible athletes in the South of England and competed nationally.
In 2015, I was volunteering at a local disability sporting event when I met a young wheelchair racer who invited me to try it out. I went down to the local athletics track and was immediately intrigued. I was impressed by the skill it required and wanted to see how fast I could go. So, after just a month, I entered two road races in London to get a feel for the competition experience and managed to finish second in both races! This really lit the flame in my heart.
In disability sport, there are classifications that ensure para-athletes are competing against people of the same ability. In wheelchair racing there are a handful of classifications, and I am in the most competitive class (T54). The conversation around classification can be a controversial one. It is complex and complicated, and individual to each athlete. I don't like the fact that there are many disabled people in the world who are too disabled to compete in the able-bodied field, but do not fit current criteria to compete as a para-athlete. My hope is that in the future, more will be done to include those athletes with less visible disabilities in sporting competitions.
For more about Lizzie, follow her on Twitter
Artist Notes
“Lizzie is shown in this illustration doing a wheelchair race. The turquoise background represents swimming, which was the first sport she trained in. The sun above signifies her resilience and courage, while the tree beside her represents her perseverance. The golden horizon conveys her passion for sports and the fact that no matter how adverse the conditions are, she will always strive hard to pursue her passion and shine.”
Published Jul 1, 2020
Updated Oct 26, 2022
Published in Issue VII: Sports