Kelly Cartwright facts for kids
Portrait for the London 2012 Paralympics
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| Nationality | Australian | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 22 April 1989 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Kelly Cartwright, born on April 22, 1989, is an amazing Australian athlete. She is known for competing in both athletics (like running and jumping) and powerlifting. Kelly won two medals at the 2012 London Paralympic Games. She also represented Australia at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.
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About Kelly Cartwright
Kelly Anne Cartwright was born in Geelong, Australia. When she was fifteen, she was diagnosed with a type of cancer called synovial sarcoma. This cancer affected her right leg.
Because chemotherapy was not an option, part of her right leg had to be removed. This is called an amputation. Kelly now uses a special artificial leg, known as a prosthetic leg.
Life with a Prosthetic Leg
Kelly started using her prosthetic leg when she was still in high school. Her everyday walking leg cost about A$62,000. It needs to be charged every night, just like a phone or tablet!
Before she lost her leg, Kelly loved playing netball. In 2009, she showed her adventurous spirit by climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, a very tall mountain.
Kelly's Work and Family
As of 2012, Kelly worked as a receptionist. She is also an ambassador for two important groups: the Australian Paralympic Committee and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. This means she helps represent and support these organizations.
Kelly also appeared on the Australian TV show Dancing with the Stars in its fifteenth season. In 2016, Kelly and her partner, Ryan, welcomed their son into the world.
Kelly's Athletics Career
Kelly Cartwright is a T42 classified runner. This classification is for athletes who have a disability that affects one leg, often due to an amputation. She is coached by Tim Matthews.
In 2008, Kelly received a scholarship from the Australian Institute of Sport. Later, in 2012, she also got a scholarship from the Victorian Institute of Sport. These scholarships help athletes train and compete.
Early Competitions and Paralympic Debut
Kelly started competing in athletics in 2007. Her first time representing Australia was at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics. She competed in the 100-meter race, using a special carbon fibre running leg. She made it to the finals and finished in sixth place. Before these Games, she trained hard in Geelong.
World Records and Paralympic Medals
Kelly competed in the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships. There, she won first place in the 100-meter event and even set a new world record!
In 2012, at the Australian Athletics Championships, she set another world record. She ran the 100-meter T42 event in an amazing 16.26 seconds. That same year, she was the world champion in both the T42 100-meter race and the long jump events.
At the 2012 London Paralympics, Kelly achieved incredible success. She won a gold medal in the Women's Long Jump F42/44 event. She also earned a silver medal in the Women's 100-meter T42 event.
Switch to Powerlifting
After the 2012 Paralympics, Kelly faced a serious ankle injury. Because of this, she decided to change sports and began training in para powerlifting.
She competed in powerlifting at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. She finished in 7th place in the lightweight event.
Awards and Recognition
Kelly Cartwright has received several honors for her achievements. She was a finalist for the 2012 Australian Paralympian of the Year award.
In 2014, she was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM). This special award was given to her "for service to sport as a Gold Medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games." It recognizes her outstanding contribution to sport.
Gallery
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Kelly Cartwright at the London Paralympics
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Kelly Cartwright at the London Paralympics
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Kelly with her athletics teammates at the 2012 Australian Paralympian of the Year ceremony
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See also
In Spanish: Kelly Cartwright para niños
