After basketball, it's sailing

Woy Woy sailor Liesl Tesch has made the Australian Sailing Team for the London Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Tesch qualified along with Daniel Fitzgibbon after gaining the best results in the Australian Fleet at the World Championships in Weymouth last year and then the World Championships in Florida earlier this year.

Tesch and Fitzgibbon are scheduled to participate in three regattas in the lead-up to the Paralympics.

After breaking her back at age 19, Tesch began her sporting career representing Australia in wheelchair basketball.

She began competitive sailing with Fitzgibbon in December 2010 after they were inspired by the documentary "Disabled-bodied Sailors".

The pair began entering regattas and earning gold, silver and bronze medals.

Tesch is preparing for the London Games by sailing on weekends, training at the gym two to three times a week, as well as bike riding and kayaking.

Media release, 29 Mar 2012 Liesl Tesch, Woy Woy