BRONZED AUSSIE AN INSPIRATION
A FORMER Gold Coast schoolteacher is inspiring the next generation of athletes after winning Australia’s first ever medal at the Paralympics in taekwondo.
Janine Watson took home a bronze medal in Tokyo – a welcome pay-off after years of hard work and dedication to her sport.
“This shows any athlete with a disability or any up-and-coming athlete that, if they put their mind to it and stay dedicated, they can achieve their goals and dreams,” Ms Watson said.
The Paralympian was a maths and science teacher from 2012 to 2017 at Palm Beach Currumbin State School and a deputy principal at Elanora State School in 2017.
She retired from teaching to become a professional athlete.
Ms Watson, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis at age 25, now has her sights set on tackling a new sport at the Paris 2024 Paralympics.
“I’ve got a wheelchair tennis tournament this weekend, but then I’m also looking to trial different sports,” she said. “I’m just excited to see where this journey takes me next.”
Ms Watson trains at Hartmann taekwondo on the Gold Coast with coach Ben Hartmann, who was “over the moon” with the result at Tokyo.
“We trained every day for the competition,” he said.