Milly Marshall Kirkwood - Pathway to Paralympics

Milly is a competitive young woman with a burning desire to become Taranaki’s first female Paralympian and first ever para-athlete to compete in field events.

Diagnosed with Marfan's Syndrome as a toddler, the genetic condition affects the connective tissue in her cells, potentially causing scoliosis, dissection of major arteries (particularly the aorta) lens dislocation and potential failure of other vital organs.

During her life, Milly has undergone a number of surgeries on her heart and lower legs as a result of her condition. Marfan’s Syndrome is something that continues to affect Milly every day through her heart function, vision, hyper-mobility of joints, and her ability to walk long distances.

While Milly has endured a number of challenges, her condition has also granted her an opportunity to participate and excel in a sport she truly loves. She recently stepped onto an exciting high performance pathway with Athletics New Zealand and is now looking for support to help her achieve her goal of attending the Los Angeles Paralympics in 2028.