Jodi Elkington-Jones was diagnosed with cerebral palsy when she was 18-months-old, after her family began to notice that the right side of her body was considerably less mobile than the left. She underwent intensive physiotherapy, but recalls that the process was made easier by the support of her brother, who would often sit with her and do the exercises as well.
Jodi represented Victoria for three years in swimming, however, her cousin is Jarem Pearce, the youngest person ever to win the prestigious Stawell Gift, and following surgery on her elbow in 2008, she began competing in athletics as well.
Athletics coach, Greg Simpson, was immediately impressed with Jodi’s pain threshold and mental strength, and later that year she was selected to represent Victoria at the Pacific School Games in Canberra. In 2010 she was named on the Australian Commonwealth Games team, the only female sprinter with a disability on the squad, and did well to place 4th in the 100m. Unfortunately, Jodi’s preparation was marred by dietary issues.
In the lead-up to her Paralympic debut in London, Jodi relocated to Canberra to be coached by Iryna Dvoskina under an Australian Institute of Sport scholarship. She enjoyed a successful 2012 Games campaign, placing fourth in the 4x100m relay and sixth in the 400m final.
Following a six-month hiatus, the 2013 Albury Young Sports Achiever returned to athletics with renewed vigour, achieving automatic selection for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, where she won gold in long jump.
After achieving fifth in long jump and the 4x100m relay at the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in Doha, Jodi was well-placed for a strong performance at the 2016 Rio Games. Guided by her coach, Commonwealth Games gold medallist, Nicole Boegman-Stewart, Jodi exceeded expectations, achieving bronze medals in long jump and the 4x100m relay.
With a Certificate III and IV in Personal Training and Physical Fitness in her back pocket, the Kellyville Ridge local is currently employed as a fitness instructor at Curves, Rouse Hill. Where she can, she finds time to learn Brazilian Portuguese, and enjoys cooking, eating sushi, and watching athletics, swimming, cricket and the AFL. She also has experience umpiring netball games.
Inspired by her parents, her husband and cerebral palsy Paralympic gold medallists, Lisa McIntosh and Evan O’Hanlon, Jodi works to always give her best, both in sport and in life.
Show less
Join AUS Squad
Para-athletics
