Donna Burns facts for kids
Annette Kelly (L) watches as Donna Burns shoots when the Australian "Pearls" play Great Britain at the 1992 "Paralympic Games for Persons with Mental Handicap" in Madrid.
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| Full name | Donna Burns | ||||||||||
| Nationality |  Australia |
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| Born | Echuca, Victoria | ||||||||||
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Medal record
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Donna Burns is an amazing Australian basketball player. She won a gold medal as part of the Australian team called the Pearls. This happened at the 1992 Madrid Paralympic Games for people with an intellectual disability. Donna is also an Indigenous Australian, from the Yorta Yorta people. She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for her achievements.
About Donna Burns
Donna Burns was born in 1972 in Echuca, a town in Victoria, Australia. She is a proud Indigenous Australian and a descendant of the Yorta Yorta community. Her grandmother was Margaret Tucker, a well-known Indigenous Australian activist and writer. Donna's family has a strong history and connection to their culture.
Basketball Journey
Donna started playing sports at a young age. She switched between netball and basketball when she was eight years old. As she got older, her coach encouraged her to focus on basketball. Her coach saw that Donna had a special talent for the sport. This encouragement helped Donna dream big and aim to play for Australia.
Playing for the Pearls
Donna was chosen to be a member of the Pearls. This is the Australian national women's basketball team for athletes with an intellectual disability. The Pearls were incredibly successful at the 1992 Madrid Games. They played five games and won every single one! They competed against teams from Great Britain, France, Poland, and Greece.
Donna was a key player for the team. She scored 128 of the team's total 273 points. Because of her amazing performance, she was voted the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.
Awards and Recognition
Donna Burns has received many important awards for her achievements:
- She was named the NAIDOC Victorian Sports Person of the Year in 1993.
- In 1993, she also won the National Sportswoman of the Year award. This was at the 4th National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards.
- On June 13, 1993, Donna received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM). This award was given to her for her great service to sport. It specifically recognized her gold medal win at the 1992 Paralympic Games in Madrid.
- She was also added to the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame. This honors her as one of the best Indigenous athletes in Australia's history.
