Kiwi athlete becomes a Paralympics avatar
Holly Robinson has spent years critiquing herself in the quest for perfection in her field of javelin.
The 26-year-old will cast another critical eye on her performance when she gets to play the official video game of the 2021 Tokyo Paralympics – in which she features as an avatar.
‘‘I think I will be quite critical of myself, but it will just be so fun and exciting to see myself in this game, and see my avatar,’’ the Dunedin-based athlete said.
Robinson, who won a silver medal at Rio in 2016, was the only Kiwi and one of only nine across the world to be chosen for the game, which was released last night.
Fewer than 100 days out from the competition, she said her focus was firmly on the Games and to ‘‘throw the best I can’’, but that she had not wanted to pass up the chance of being in a computer game. ‘‘When you get opportunities like this it is really cool.’’
The official game of the Tokyo Paralympics, named The Pegasus Dream Tour, has been created by Japan’s JP Games. It puts players in a virtual paralympic games held in a fantasy, futuristic, inclusive and diverse metropolis known as Pegasus City.
Players can equip themselves with prosthetic arms, legs and wheelchairs and train in parasports including five-a-side football, athletics and wheelchair basketball. Their characters can also explore the city.
Robinson said the game was an innovative way of getting people interested in the Paralympics.
‘‘It is going to be really exciting that people get to experience these sports, these paralympic sports, in this video game.’’
While she was under strict orders not to discuss it prior to the worldwide launch, she had been offered a sneak peek of her avatar, which was exciting and ‘‘a bit nerve-wracking’’.
While Robinson’s partner is an avid gamer, she plays only occasionally, but planned to buy some copies for her family and friends.
With the countdown on to the Tokyo Games, she said her training and preparation was ‘‘really coming together’’. ‘‘I’m just looking forward to throwing as far as I can on the day.’’