the western weekender » Friday, April 15, 2022
SPORT PANTHERS V BRONCOS Extra Time. See centre pull-out.
Local student Layla Sharp hopes to be a Paralympian one day.
Layla chases her dreams S
t Marys teenager Layla Sharp dreams of becoming Australia’s next Paralympian and, if her recent results against girls up to five years her senior are anything to go by, that goal may well be within reach. The 14-year-old runner recently competed at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships, taking home a hattrick of silver medals in the 400m, 800m and 1500m races. Competing in the T12 disability category for athletes with vision impairment, the Emmaus Catholic College student holds
the all-age Australian 1500m record, the Australian U20 800m record and the Australian U16 400m record. Earlier this year Layla was handed a racing bib featuring Aboriginal artwork which she wore at the NSW Athletics Championships (Open Age), identifying her as a record holder and potential future Paralympian. “I’m hoping to break more of my Australian records and eventually make the Paralympics or the Commonwealth Games,” Layla said. “I love coming to these competitions and meeting new people. I also love being able to tell my friends and people at school about the events and especially the differ-
ent disabilities that para-athletes have. It helps raise awareness about disabilities.” While Layla is a joy to watch on the track, it’s her incredible sportsmanship postrace that’s getting people talking also. “Every time, no matter what place I come I always wait for everyone else to finish,” Layla said. “I think it’s really important to acknowledge everyone because it’s such a great thing just to make these events. It’s really good to be inclusive and proud of everyone no matter where they finish.” Wearing her Emmaus sports jacket with pride at the Australian Juniors, Layla credited her school for helping students develop a strong sense of compassion and
always being welcoming and inclusive of others. “In my school, everyone is really inclusive of everyone and our community is very close and together,” she said. Not content with simply educating others about disabilities, Layla is hoping to actively promote disabilities by establishing some new relay events. “In Year 6, I was captain of the NSW Athletics Team and I came up with the idea to do a combined multi-class and mainstream relay,” she said. “It would be good to raise awareness so mainstream athletes could learn more about disabilities and see races and athletics from a disabled athlete’s perspective.”
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NATHAN TAYLOR
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