Western Australian Para Athletes Set Sights on London
Western Australian Paralympians Madison de Rozario and Ella Pardy will both make their returns to the Australian Para Athletics Team this month as they prepare to compete in London at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships.
Seven time Australian representative, de Rozario will return to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London for the first time since competing in the venue at the 2012 London Games.
Since coming away from London in 2012 Madison has shown impressive form at both the 2016 Rio Paralympics and the 2015 Doha IPC World Championships.
De Rozario said, “London Paralympics was a bit of a rollercoaster for me, it had some pretty negative experiences. Overall it was incredible, I mean going to any Paralympics is an amazing experience. But it will be nice to get better results at the stadium.”
Coached by four time Paralympian Louise Sauvage, Madison has managed to achieve outstanding results, currently sitting as second in the world for the 800m, 1500m and 5000m events in the T53 class.
“I feel like I’m in career best form. I feel like every year for the last two, three years I have managed to make really great gains, which is really exciting. Even just some of my training sessions, Lou’s able to see that I’ve improved since Doha. The training structure from the last few years is all really coming together and we are seeing results which is so exciting” said de Rozario.
Despite her current form, the experienced national representative knows that a win in London will be no simple task.
“I think it’s important going to London with an open mind. I feel like our field is strong and the world record has been broken three times in the last two years by three different women, and none of them have been me. So whilst I’m feeling strong at the moment and I have had some fairly decent results in Rio and Doha, the field is so strong. It’s difficult to know what to expect, honestly on the day anything can happen. They are an incredible field of girls.”
Ella Pardy, like de Rozario, will be hungry for success in London.
Qualifying for the Australian Para Athletics Team for a fourth consecutive year, she will compete in both the 100m and 200m events in the T38 class.
After the future of her career was put into question following a broken ankle in 2013, Pardy has returned to the track showing her true potential, coming within 0.06 seconds of the world record on her second run back.
With the support of her family, friends and coaching staff since her injury, Ella has represented Australia at a Commonwealth Games, a Paralympics and a World Championships.
“I love representing my country,” she explained. “Every training session can seem cut off from everything else, but it’s all a step closer to being part of something huge. I received a massive pile of letters from school children all over Australia before and after Rio, with well wishes before my events and congratulations after winning my medal. They are so special to me and knowing how much support I have, makes me strong and confident.”
Following a bronze medal win at last year’s Rio Paralympics in the 4x100m relay, Pardy returned in fine form to earn herself selection in the Team Australia camp for the inaugural Nitro Athletics competition in Melbourne.
“Nitro was a totally awesome experience. The stadium was electric and being part of Team Australia and having a stadium full of supporters cheering us on was like riding a massive wave. The wonderful crowd cheering me on carried me to the finishing line. The emotion was overwhelming. I loved ever minute of it and truly hope I can be part of Nitro again.”
On a journey of ongoing improvement, Ella is confident that she can perform in London.
“My goals are to execute the race as I have been in training, focusing on a fast start, and as always for any sprinter to run faster. I absolutely want to run under 13 seconds. it’s something I know I can make happen with the work I’ve put in and to get the placing I want.”
Ella Pardy and Madison de Rozario begin competition at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships next weekend with the competition scheduled to run from the 14th to the 23rd of July.
This article was combined from two features that first appeared on the Athletics WA website. You can read them in full at the following links: