Carrie's Para badminton dream

For those that know me know I love playing badminton, but as a youngster I also loved beer. So being an Olympic or World Champ went down the gurgla. But now a new door has opened, PARABADMINTON!!

Six years ago a terrible, and highly painful, accident happened. I played a shot in badminton and my back went 'snap, crack, pop'. I had prolapsed my L4/L5 disk in my spine. Now after many years of rehab and three back operations, I have been diagnosed with footdrop. A very simple word for a very intense life changing and painful condition. Since then I have had the up hill battle to learn to walk again, to trust myself and to try and stay up beat, even on the days when the chronic pain kicks my butt.

Now I'm finally back on the badminton court learning to adapt my footwork to suit this condition. It may be true you cant teach an old dog new tricks, but when you want something, I believe its possible.

I havent been working much this year, a few coaching sessons here and there and I have been busy adjusting my medication to cope with the pain. I got the lastest and greatest brace (for my leg, so I can walk) from "TerboMed" in Canada. What a game changer that has been.

FREEDOM!!

Now I really want to spread my wings on the badminton court again and see how far I can take this. I go to the gym 4/5 nights and week and train for badminton 2/3 times. These sessions I hope to double, as we get closer to February, which is the Oceania Champs in Melbourne. They are having a classification a few days before, to get competitors offically classified before the tournment.

Maybe those teenage dreams of being part of an olympic team arent over just yet, just 20 years late! 2024 here I come...