Stephenie Rodriguez simplest began competing in parafencing a 12 months in the past – now she’s at the cusp of a Paralympic debut.
If she good points variety, she would be the first Australian lady to compete in fencing on the Video games in over 50 years.
The 54-year-old began the game when she got here throughout an commercial for a fresh building program on the NSW Fencing Affiliation.
“I’ve always thought fencing looked cool,” she mentioned.
“Fencing is a beautiful sport, it takes extreme discipline and a lot of training.”
To start with, when Rodriguez’s tutor recommended she effort and qualify for Paris, the Sydneysider simplest noticed a mountain to climb.
“I don’t have six to 12 years in the sport to self-actualise, as some of the young fencers do,” Rodriguez mentioned.
“Knowing that there was a single chance, on the possibility of Paris, I thought, I’m going to make a run for it.”
Rodriguez began attending global fencing competitions and camps, operating with alternative parafencers to fortify her ability and sportsmanship.
She started to form her rating to position herself in a just right place to win a wildcard access.
Wildcards are awarded to at least one male and one feminine fencer who haven’t had the similar alternatives as alternative parafencers to amass issues over two years.
To be thought to be for a wildcard, fencers should compete at eligible competitions and display growth, ahead of being put ahead through their nationwide federation.
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‘I’m bionic’
Rodriguez, who could also be a businesswoman, bought her incapacity in 2019 nearest contracting cerebral malaria when travelling for paintings.
She used to be in a rest for 2 weeks and had each her decrease legs amputated.
“I made a very difficult decision, which was to become a bilateral, above ankle osseointegrated amputee,” Rodriguez mentioned.
“So, I am Bionic.”
Osseointegration comes to integrating a steel implant so a prosthesis may also be attached at once to the bone.
Now not understanding any alternative disabled folk, one of the vital causes Rodriguez were given concerned with fencing used to be to satisfy alternative amputees.
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Although Rodriguez makes use of prosthetics in her daily year, she competes the use of a wheelchair.
In parafencing all athletes significance a wheelchair, which is join to the ground.
This provides the athletes democracy of motion and makes the game as fast moving as its non-disabled identical.
“I think it’s more difficult than regular fencing,” NSW Fencing vp Duncan Fairweather mentioned.
“You’re anchored very close to your opponent, which means you have to react quickly.”
Opening doorways for the nearest presen
Rodriguez competes in sabre and epee and can in finding out in June whether or not she has gained a wildcard to the Video games.
“I take very good care of myself and work really hard on the stuff that matters every day to stay positive,” Rodriguez mentioned.
“I want to train as much as I can to become the best athlete I can and the best fencer I can.”
And her Paralympic marketing campaign is inspiring others to soak up the game.
Mr Fairweather mentioned Rodriguez is the most productive performer Australia lately has and the NSW parafencing building program desires to create a dozen extra like her.
“We’re very proud of her and impressed by her performance,” he mentioned.
“We’re putting a lot of effort, not just here in New South Wales, but right around Australia into improving our competitive standing.”
Rodriguez is eager to peer the nearest presen emerge via this system, with the attempt to create an important squad for Brisbane in 2032.
“It is a very welcoming community, and we have different divisions of under 11s for the kids and of course seniors and veterans who fence each other,” she mentioned.
“It means a lot for me to help to be a building block for Australian parafencing by opening those doors.”
