Three-time Paralympian, two-time Bronze medallist and IPC Athletics World Champion, Maddy Hogan’s professional sporting career is one of accomplishment. But while Maddy’s Paralympic journey is extraordinary and uniquely her own, the heart of her story is universal
Maddy’s journey to the podium is one of resilience and overcoming adversity. After a torn Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) in her left knee, prevented her from defending her title at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championship, Maddy fought back with grit and a fierce belief in what was possible, and was rewarded with selection as Team Australia flagbearer for the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championship. games, undergoing leading medical surgery and rehab to make her comeback.
Six days before the competition, Maddy tore her right ACL and was told her dreams of competing in the 2016 Rio Paralympics were gone. With only a year to qualify, Maddy fought back and achieved her dream of competing at three Paralympic Games. While not everyone will compete on the world’s biggest sporting stage, everyone can understand resonate with Maddy’s message on what it feels like to face setbacks, doubt or challenges that seem insurmountable. Maddy’s resilience – forged on and off the field – speaks to something deeper: the belief that no matter who you are or where you come from, you can “give it a go” and rebuild.
Today, Maddy inspires audiences with her lived experience of overcoming obstacles, redefining strength and proving that courage in the face of adversity is something everyone of us can connect with.
What could you achieve if you chose to rise every time life tried to pull you down? 