"Be Brave. Take the Leap."

For Neelam O’Neill, shooting was never part of the plan. But from firing her first shots at a tin-roof range in New Zealand to making history as the first female pistol shooter to represent her country at the Paralympics, she has defied every expectation, including her own. "The first time I held a gun, I was seven years old, just shooting cans on a family trip—I didn’t think much of it.” Flash forward to today, and she is the face of para shooting in New Zealand.

Born with spina bifida and later diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, Neelam has faced immense challenges—both in sport and in life. And she wants to talk about it: “Disability is still not normalized, but 15% of the world has one—why are we still afraid to talk about it?” From navigating the financial burden of competing internationally to overcoming accessibility barriers in global competitions, she has had to fight for every opportunity. But Neelam refuses to let obstacles define her. “People with disabilities, our biggest thing is we just carry on. We just move forward.”

In this episode, Neelam shares her journey from self-funded athlete to Paralympian, the mental discipline required in shooting, and the resilience that fuels her. She also challenges listeners to rethink disability, urging them to start conversations and embrace inclusivity.

Her message is clear: “Be brave. Take the leap.”

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Flame Bearers is a multi media movement, illuminating the unsung stories of elite women athletes from around the world. We tell stories via podcast, video and live events and have worked with over 250 Olympians and Paralympians from 55 countries and counting.

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