Paralympian visits Ettalong

Paralympian gold medallist Leisl Tesch visited Ettalong Public School on Friday, May 24, and spoke to students about her journey from being an able-bodied teenager to a gold medal winning Olympian.

"Every child in our school library last Friday was enthralled with her life story, friendliness and honesty as she recounted her journey," said Ettalong Public School principal Mr Colin Wallis.

"At 19 years of age, Leisl was riding her pushbike home with a plastic bag hanging on the handlebars.

"She was wearing a bike helmet and doing nothing wrong but the plastic bag caught in her front wheel and sent her tumbling over the handlebars.

"With a broken back, Leisl became a paraplegic.

"After winning bronze and silver Olympic medals playing wheelchair basketball, Leisl represented Australia in Paralympic sailing, winning a gold medal.

"Incredibly, Leisl was happy to pass her medals around for our students to hold and she even brought her sports wheelchair with her and allowed many of our children to wheel around the library in it.

"This wonderful afternoon concluded with the children singing a belated Happy Birthday to Leisl as it was her birthday in the previous week.

"She is one truly inspirational lady and we were so lucky to have her visit our school," said Mr Wallis.

Newsletter, 28 May 2013

Colin Wallis, Ettalong Public School