Year 6 para-athlete and Ravenswood student, Zara excelled at the Pacific Schools Games in Adelaide at the beginning of December. The 11-year old from Frenchs Forest, won Silver in the shot put, Bronze in the long jump, Bronze in the 4 x 100 metre relay and achieved fourth in the 100 metres.

Zara is vision impaired and has been participating in track and field since she was seven years old. She now trains two to three times a week with the Ravenswood coaching team as well as with an external Paralympic coach.

Zara’s mother Rachel says her success is the result of a consistent training regime and enormous resilience and determination. ‘Zara focuses on the fun aspect of competition and on the amazing networks of friends she has gained from around the world,’ her mother says. According to Zara, the Pacific Schools Games were ‘a once-in-a-lifetime experience!’

The Games saw 4000 athletes from around Australia and 14 other countries compete in 11 sports over five days.