Robyn
Lambaird

Wheelchair racer Robyn Lambird says that becoming a Paralympian would not only represent having achieved their dream of competing at the highest level in Paralympic sport, but also the opportunity to inspire the next generation of young people with disabilities to do what they love. For Robyn, that is Para-athletics.

Born in England and raised in WA, Robyn was not diagnosed with cerebral palsy until the age of nine. While they can walk for short stints – they had surgery to lengthen her hamstrings and Achilles tendons – her greatest successes in sport have come seated.

Robyn began competing in Para-athletics in 2016, and quickly established themselves as one of the world’s most exciting young prospects in the T34 classification. Most recently, they placed second in the women’s 100m T34 and fourth in the women’s 200m T34 at the 2018 World Para-athletics Grand Prix in Nottwil, Switzerland, sixth in the women’s 100m T34 at the Daniela Jutzeler Memorial in Arbon, Switzerland, and sixth in the women’s 100m T34 and women’s 800m T34 at the 2019 Swiss National Championships in Arbon.

As well as being an accomplished track star, Robyn also plays wheelchair rugby nationally, and was once a chance to achieve selection to the Australian women’s wheelchair basketball team, the Gliders – however, due to their cerebral palsy, they did not have the coordination required to compete internationally.

In November 2019, they had the opportunity to prove to Australia why they deserved that chance. Holding their own racing alongside some of the world’s most pre-eminent wheelchair racers, Robyn placed fifth in the women’s 100m T34. It was a strong performance for the Australian debutant, all but earmarking their for selection to the 2020 Australian Paralympic Team.

Robyn’s dream of competing at a Paralympic Games came true when they were selected for the Australian 2020 Paralympic Team. In their Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020, Robyn secured a bronze medal in the 100m T34 final, with a time of 0:18.68.