If you don’t know Sam Bloom for her sporting feats – she’s won two golds and one bronze at the World Para Surfing Championships and represented Australia in paracanoeing – then you might know her as the inspiration for the global hit movie Penguin Bloom.

In 2013, Sam’s life changed dramatically when, while on holiday in Thailand, she leaned against a rotten balcony railing. As it fell away so did Sam, plummeting six metres onto the concrete below. The accident left her paralysed from the chest down.

Coming to terms with her new reality, Sam fell into a depression, grieving an old life and sense of self. Then, the unlikely arrival of an injured baby magpie – who the family called Penguin – helped her recover.

A lot has happened since we last spoke to Sam in 2019, but she continues to defy barriers in life and sport, inspiring people around the world to do the same. In this chat with our executive editor Kara Byers, Sam talks about what sport means to her, chasing a third title and what it was like to have her life given the Hollywood treatment.

In this episode we discuss suicidal thoughts. If you are struggling or having suicidal thoughts or worried about someone you know, please call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

CREDITS:

This podcast was hosted by WH executive editor Kara Byers and produced by WH editor-in-chief Lizza Gebilagin, with additional sound editing by Abby Williams.

For more from Women’s Health Australia, find us on Instagram @womenshealthaus, womenshealth.com.au or find the print and digital editions of the magazine.

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