“People sometimes say the Paralympics is just a participation event—but that’s not true.”

Tamsin Colley made history as Australia’s youngest-ever track and field Paralympian, competing in the 200m at the Rio 2016 Games. She’s also a dedicated Cerebral Palsy Footballer, balancing multiple sports while advocating for greater inclusion in competition.

But Tamsin’s journey hasn’t been without obstacles. From being excluded in school due to assumptions about her disability to falling just meters before the finish line at the Paralympics, she’s had to fight for every opportunity. “Resilience isn’t just part of being an athlete—it’s part of everyday life when you have a disability,” she shares.

Beyond competition, she’s pushing for more para events in mainstream meets and breaking down misconceptions. “The word ‘Para’ means parallel to the Olympics, not less than—it’s time people saw it that way.”

In this episode, Tamsin talks about her experiences on the world’s biggest stage, the realities of para sport, and why disability is just one (of many) parts of who she is.

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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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