Sarah Edmiston

For 19 years, Sarah Edmiston dreamed of representing Australia at the Olympic Games.

But she put that dream to rest in 1994 when she injured her right knee in a waterskiing accident, and it was another 22 years before Sarah realised that the opportunity to compete on the world stage was still a reality.

Before 2016, Sarah did not know that she was even eligible to compete in Paralympic sport, let alone succeed in it, but now, three years later, she is on the verge of making her Paralympic debut in Para-athletics at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Sarah’s success in Para-athletics came thick and fast. At her international debut at the 2017 World Para-athletics Championships in London, England, she won a bronze medal in the women’s discus throw F44 – behind the gold and silver medallists from the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Juan Yao (CHN) and Yue Yang (CHN) – and placed seventh in the women’s shot put F44.

She returned to the World Championships stage last November, upgrading her bronze to silver, and and is a two-time national champion and the reigning Australian record holder in the women’s discus throw F44 (37.66).

As impressive as this is, there is another layer to Sarah’s story – she is also a grandmother.

With the 2019 World Para-athletics Championships now done and dusted, Sarah – who is coached by her husband, former Australian hurdler, Paul Edmiston – will pour nearly all her energy into selection to her first Paralympic Team. The rest will be spent gardening and doing home renovations.

Photo with thanks to Athletics Australia