Neroli Fairhall facts for kids
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| Birth name | Neroli Susan Fairhall | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 26 August 1944 Christchurch, New Zealand |
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| Died | 11 June 2006 (aged 61) | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Country | New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Archery | |||||||||||||||||||
| Commonwealth finals | No | |||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Neroli Susan Fairhall (born August 26, 1944 – died June 11, 2006) was an amazing athlete from New Zealand. She made history by becoming the first person with paraplegia (meaning she couldn't move her legs) to compete in the Olympic Games.
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Life and Archery Journey
Neroli Fairhall was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1944. She was an active athlete. However, a motorbike accident changed her life. It caused her to become paralyzed from the waist down. This meant she could no longer do the sports she loved.
After her accident, Neroli discovered archery. This sport allowed her to compete again. She became very good at it.
Making History in Archery
Neroli Fairhall achieved many great things in archery. She won a gold medal at the 1982 Commonwealth Games in Brisbane, Australia. This was a special moment because it was the first time archery was included in the Commonwealth Games.
Two years later, in 1984, Neroli made history. She competed in the 1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. She finished in 35th place. What made this so special was that she was the first person with paraplegia to ever compete in the Olympic Games. This showed the world that athletes with disabilities could compete at the highest level.
Paralympic Achievements
Neroli Fairhall was also a very successful Paralympic athlete. The Paralympics are like the Olympic Games for athletes with disabilities. She competed in four Summer Paralympic Games:
- 1972
- 1980
- 1988
- 2000
At her first Paralympics in 1972, she competed in track and field athletics. In 1980, she competed in both athletics and archery. She won a gold medal in archery at the 1980 Summer Paralympics. For her last two Paralympic Games in 1988 and 2000, she focused only on archery.
Neroli won many national championships and other international tournaments. She held titles at the IPC-Archery World Championships too.
Honours and Legacy
In 1983, Neroli Fairhall was given a special award. She was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was for her great contributions to archery and for helping people with disabilities.
Even after she stopped competing, Neroli continued to share her knowledge. She coached at her archery club in Christchurch. She passed away on June 11, 2006, at the age of 61, due to health issues related to her disability. Her life story continues to inspire many athletes around the world.
See also
- List of athletes who have competed in the Paralympics and Olympics
