Madeline and Dinasha join forces to get women active
Paralympian Madeleine Hogan and This Girl Can – Victoria ambassador Dinasha Wimalasiri are leading the way to encourage more women to get active.
Hogan, who was born without the lower half of her left arm, played state-level able-bodied cricket before being talent identified for Paralympic sport.
“I played for the local boys club and to begin with I was the only girl playing at the club. As the seasons went on I think they quite liked having me around. I felt more so like I fitted in,” Hogan said.
No stranger to the sporting landscape, Hogan started para-athletics after attending a Paralympic talent identification program in 2006 and competed mainly in category F42/F46 javelin throw events
She went on to claim bronze medals for Australia at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Paralympics, and gold at the 2011 World Championships.
But, what would she change about sport to get women more active?
“It would be to make sport less structured and more fun, so much like Social Sixes. You get more sports getting involved doing those sorts of things because the more fun, I believe the more women will get involved,” Hogan said.
Nineteen-year-old Wimalasiri was always told girls don’t play cricket.
Resisting social pressure, Wimalasiri continues to follow her love for cricket whilst also balancing a busy study life.
“Everyday I go to training, I got my bag ready, I’ve got my bat in my hand and my mum will be like ‘have you done all your work?’” Wimalasiri said.
“I try to keep a balance. It’s not worth just study, study, study because that’s not what life is, life is about making friends, having a social life, playing sport, getting out and getting fit and my club allows me to do that.”
This Girl Can – Victoria celebrates women who are all kinds of active – no matter how well they do it, how they look or how sweaty they get.
This Girl Can – Victoria is more than a physical activity campaign. This is about empowering women to feel comfortable in their bodies and in public spaces. This is about women getting active whenever, wherever and however they choose – without worrying about being judged.
To find out more about VicHealth and the This Girl Can campaign, visit thisgirlcan.com.au.
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