EDMISTON'S EXHILARATING JOURNEY CONTINUES IN PARIS

Published Wed 21 Aug 2024

Stade de France will be the next battle ground for WA throwing powerhouse Sarah Edmiston as she looks to add to her silverware at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games.

Having never finished outside the top four in a Women’s Discus Final at a Major Championships, the grandmother of two is making the most of her green and gold journey.

A five-time Australian representative, Edmiston (Perth Track and Field, Paul Edmiston) makes her return to the Paralympic Games ready to add to her story. Filled with triumphs and tragedy, the Perth Track and Field athlete’s second act in athletics has been one for the ages.

Starting her athletics career at the Bungaree Little Athletics, Edmiston dreamed of representing her country on the world stage like so many young Australians. However, the dream was tragically sidelined after Edmiston experienced a water-skiing accident at age 19.

The incident left her with permanent injury to her right leg and was told by doctors ‘you’ll never throw again’, leaving the young thrower convinced her chance to represent her country was no longer an option.

But in 2016 that all changed. The future Australian record holder returned to training to discover that her athletics journey was far from over and if willing, the dream to represent her country was still a chance.

“How many times in life do you get a second chance to do something you really want to do?” said Edmiston.

“I have just gone with it, and I put all my energy and effort into making the most of what I know will probably be a limited time for me.”

Edmiston embraced the opportunity with vigor and wasted no time. In just over 12 months she would secure the required para classification, a spot on her first Australian team and a bronze medal at the London 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in quick succession.

“It was a quick one actually, someone just said to me at training, why are you competing in able bodied when you would be eligible for para-athletics?”

“So, I looked it up and I couldn’t believe it. It was only really a few months after that I was named on my first international team.”

Edmiston has since established herself as a force to be reckoned with in the throwing circle and has represented Australia another four times, excluding Paris, to claim four major international medals.

Returning to the World Para Athletics Championships in 2019, Edmiston bettered her previous performance to secure silver in Dubai. Then, despite a delay, the Perth Track and Field athlete made her Paralympic debut in Tokyo in 2021. Making her Paralympic debut at age 45, Edmiston proved age is no barrier to success and clinched bronze in the F64 Women’s Discus final with a championship best of 37.85m.

Edmiston continued to improve on her Australian record and set a career best of 39.13m in the lead up to the 2022 Commonwealth Game, before winning Silver in Birmingham.

Now a stalwart of the sport, Edmiston is the perfect example of how grit and a ‘never give up’ attitude can lead you to do incredible things.

“I’ve definitely always had it in me and even from a young age I was doing little aths the whole time I was growing up and I never really won anything when I was little.”

“I always just really enjoyed it and always strived to do better and better and better.”

“I think that’s part of what’s in me, to just keep on trying and keep on doing the best that I can.”

The 2024 Paris Paralympic Games are set to take place from the 29th of August to the 8th of September, with the athletics action getting underway from the 30th.    

To follow Sarah’s journey and stay up to date with the Paris Paralympics schedules, results and updates, follow the Athletics West Facebook and Instagram pages. 