In December 2021 I picked up a badminton racquet for the first time. I fell in love with the sport and started receiving coaching in April 2022. In less than 12 months I have achieved results that demonstrate my drive and competitiveness to excel in the sport at the highest level.

I am the first para athlete in the history of the Oceania Championships to win 3 gold medals. I am the current national champion in wheelchair badminton singles and mixed doubles. I played in my first international tournament in Peru in December 2022. I got through to the semi finals being knocked out by the current World Champion, coming away with a bronze medal.

In order to qualify for the Paris 2024 Paralympics I competed in 10 international competitions to gain enough points to be considered to represent Australia. And the great news is, I have qualified for the Paralympics!

As of June 2024 my world ranking is 11, with the aim to progress well inside of the top 10. I'm the first Australian female wheelchair badminton player to be selected to represent Australia at the Paralympics.

My successes in the last 12 months indicate my drive to succeed, my continuous improvement and my success on the international stage in a very short space of time.

My background:

Since I was a little girl it was always my dream to compete at the Olympics. I was a competitive swimmer throughout my primary and high schooling, training twice a day. I had to be extremely disciplined in order to manage hours a day of training and schooling. I decided to give up swimming when I was 17, when I got accepted to represent South Africa as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. Rotary gave me the opportunity to live in Australia for 12 months as a student and explore the Aussie way of life. This is when I fell in love with Australia, which I now call home and I am a very proud Australian citizen. I immigrated to Australia in 2008 when I was offered employment by an accounting firm.

In April 2012, I ruptured my cervical spinal in a rowing competition. I had to have spinal surgery during which there were medical complications. I went from a healthy and fit person to being fed by a tube, not being able to talk or swallow safely. I lost most function down my right side and became totally bed bound. I spent 4 years in hospital undergoing medical treatment and rehabilitation. The hospital wanted to transfer me to an Aged Care Facility as there seemed no hope for my recovery. Beating all the odds, it demonstrates my faith and shows my determination to succeed and never quit. No matter what challenges have been thrown at me, I have found a way of overcoming them. It is a miracle that I am back playing sport at the highest level and finding happiness again. My journey demonstrates my capacity to adjust and my capability to push through barriers and achieve my dreams.

How you can help?

I hope you are inspired by my story and will consider backing me on my Pursuit to Paris. Your financial support to help me best prepare for Paris and incorporate more daily training into my program. The cost of coaching and the other preparations for Paris are costly and I need your help to get there.

If I am able to excel in this sport in Paris and beyond, it will have a positive impact on the sport in Australia, resulting in more funding into the sport to support future para badminton athletes on their sporting journey to success. Currently para badminton athletes don't receive any financial support towards pursuing the sport at the highest level and qualifying for the Paralympics. This is why I need your help to make it happen.

My goal is not just about me but to have a wider impact on future para athletes who may not get a chance due to financial limitations in the sport. Getting back into sport has made a huge impact on my physical and mental health and I believe engaging more people who live with a disability into sport can be life changing. My aim along my journey is to create more awareness about engaging in sport with a disability and hopefully provide more opportunity for other potential young para athletes to fulfil their dreams.

Please consider supporting me on my journey and helping me support the next generation of para badminton athletes.

Please consider:

• donating towards my dream.
• sharing my story with your friends, family and network to gain as much social, corporate and financial support as possible.

If you have any questions or wish to contact me directly my email address is mischa.ginns@gmail.com