Young athlete eyes London Paralympics

IN TRAINING: Athlete Holly Robinson, 14, with help from her manager and grandmother, Shirley Crowley, wants to get to the 2012 Paralympics.

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A record-breaking West Coast athlete is chasing her dream of competing in the next Paralympics.

Holly Robinson, 14, of Hokitika, was born with no lower left arm, but has always been a sports fanatic.

She has enjoyed a string of successes in national and international competitions, as well as being named the ParaFed Canterbury junior sportsperson of 2009 before Christmas.

She now has her sights set on the 2012 London Paralympics, only having to decide on which event to contest.

"It depends on what I excel more in over the next couple of years," she said.

She is a formidable competitor in a range of events, including the shot put, discus, javelin, long jump and triple jump.

She says she enjoys shot put the most. She holds the New Zealand Paralympics senior and junior records in the event, as well as in the discus, javelin and long jump.

Holly's week consists of three gym sessions and playing sport nearly every day. At the weekend she takes part in athletics training or competitions, accompanied by grandmother and manager Shirley Crowley, 68.

She is also a keen rugby and netball player, although these may have to take a back seat as she concentrates on her goal.

"I'm going to have to up my training and give up my other sports to focus on athletics," she said.

She does not like the term "disabled athlete" or being treated differently from other competitors.

"If people treat her differently then she just goes dog," said her mother, Pauline Robinson.

Trainer Danny Spark said Holly had the maturity to realise her ambitions.

If Holly's natural talent was nurtured there was no reason why she could not be part of the New Zealand team in 2012, Spark said.

"She's got the right attitude to be a champion athlete. If she doesn't win she doesn't worry about it and just knows she can do better," he said.

"She's coming on really outstandingly and it's a privilege to help her."

- © Fairfax NZ News