Para-athletes share stories of true courage
THE stories of overcoming hardship were present everywhere during the Gold Coast Marathon, nowhere more so than the wheelchair events.
Niasan Hiran travelled from Iraq to compete in the wheelchair marathon yester- day, coming sixth in the 42km challenge. Mr Hiran lost his legs serving with the army more than 30 years ago.
“I’ve been racing for three years. I train in Baghdad.,” he said “Australia is a beautiful country, beautiful people. “
William Tan, who was born in Singapore, said he travelled to different countries to commission,” pete in para-athletic competitions as his home country didnh’t accommodate wheelchair racing.
Dr Tan, a neuroscientist and champion athlete, became a paraplegic after contracting polio when he was two and was diagnosd with leukaemia as an adult. “This is big celebration for me this is my 10-year re- Dr Tan said.
“I haven’t been able to race (in Singapore) in 16 years. In many ways I’m taking this opportunity to raise awareness that marathon racing needs to come back to Singapore.
“The marathons there don’t have a category for wheelchair races. I’m so happy to be here racing today.”