Words by Smiley Team
In their first-ever Paralympic Games, Robyn Lambird made history last weekend as the first medal winner out as non-binary.
“It’s been almost a 10-year dream. So to be here and to win a medal among the best in the world. It’s awesome,” Robyn told Australian news outlet 7Sport.
Over a decade ago, they were diagnosed with cerebral palsy aged nine, when they moved from England to Perth, Australia. They had to have surgery to lengthen their hamstrings and Achilles tendons and living with the condition makes them dependent on a wheelchair for their mobility.
They always loved sports, playing wheelchair rugby and wheelchair basketball before getting into Para-athletics in 2016.
[Read more: 9-year-old does 22,000 ‘steps’ in wheelchair]
Their striking looks caught the attention of activewear maker Target, for which they became the first person in a wheelchair to front their campaign. They’ve also modeled for Tommy Hilfiger, Bonds and ModiBodi among other clothing brands.
In 2018 their talent really started to shine when they came second place in the World Para-athletics Grand Prix in Nottwil in the Women's 100m T34, as well as fourth in the Women's 200m T34.
Since then, they started to collect increasingly more medals, finishing fifth in the women’s 100m T34 at the World Para Athletics Championships in 2019.
This year they topped it all in the Summer Paralympics, becoming the first out non-binary medal winner in the Games. They joined Australian para athlete Maz Strong and team USA’s Laura Goodkind as the only out non-binary athletes to compete.
They finished the race in 18.68 seconds, just seconds after Team GB’s Kare Adenegan and Hannah Cockroft, who won silver and gold.
In a Tweet, they thanked their coach, Blanche Herbert, as well as their friends and family.
[Read more: ‘Leg Up’ raises vital funds during Paralympics]
For children around the world, they offered these words of encouragement: “I just want to show all the kids out there – with disabilities or not – if you have a dream, chase it. There’s always a way, and you can find that way.”
Having been classified as disabled since the age of nine, Robyn has found that have long been desexualised, something they’ve since learnt to reject.
“Disabled is sexy!” they added.
