Samantha Schmidt facts for kids

Samantha Schmidt is an amazing Australian athlete who competes in the Paralympics. She was born on October 10, 2001. Samantha has proudly represented Australia at two big events: the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020 and the Paris Paralympics in 2024.

Samantha's Early Life

Samantha was born on October 10, 2001. Her parents are Gemina Moore and David Schmidt. Samantha has a condition called cerebral palsy, which affects how her body moves.

She also has a special connection to her heritage. Samantha is from the Wakawaka and Gubbi Gubbi Indigenous Australian groups. She went to Bundaberg State High School and lives in Bundaberg, Queensland.

Samantha's Athletics Career

Samantha Schmidt started throwing the discus when she was only five years old. She is classified as an F38 thrower. This classification is for athletes with certain types of movement difficulties.

In 2018, Samantha became the national champion. She won titles in both open women's para discus and javelin events. In 2020, she was chosen for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic discus shadow squad. This meant she was a strong contender for the team.

In March 2021, Samantha achieved a personal best throw. She threw the discus 33.66 meters. This throw set a new national and Oceania record for her event.

At the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics, Samantha competed in the Women's Discus F38 event. She finished in sixth place with a throw of 30.26 meters. She also competed at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships. There, she finished fifth in the Women's Discus F38.

Samantha continued to represent Australia at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. In Paris, she finished seventh in the Women's Discus throw F38 event. Samantha's coach is Ralph Newton, who helps her train and improve.