I was diagnosed with an osteosarcoma (cancer within the bone) at the age of 11 years old. After several rounds of intense chemotherapy it was discovered that the cancer wasn't reducing, but instead growing. This left me with the hardest decision of my life. There were two options. I could either get a hip replacement and most likely die, or I could get my leg amputated at the hip (disarticulation) and most likely live. I decided to amputate my left leg.
The very next day I was being wheeled into the operating room to face the most life changing event I would ever have known. Fast forward 17 years and I’ve proudly represented South Africa in swimming many times including three Paralympic Games: Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio de Janeiro 2016.
After completing my degree in Sport Science, I decided to stop swimming professionally and moved to New York City where I worked for a few years at a Prosthetics company, while taking up surfing and rock climbing. I then moved to Colorado where I now live. I have taken my passion from water and now put it into the walls of rock climbing.
After only 3 months of training I went to the US Adaptive Climbing Nationals and place 3rd in my category respectively. I then became the first ParaClimber to represent South Africa on the World stage at the IFSC World Climbing Championships 2018 in Austria where I placed 6th.
As I gear towards my second World Championships in Moscow and my first World Cup in Los Angeles I hope to once again make my country proud.
RECORDS
International Swim and Climbing Competitions
2004 IWAS Games, Rio de Janeiro - Gold, Silver & Bronze
2005 South Pacific Swimming Championships, Melbourne - Bronze & multiple personal bests
2005 England Open Championships, Sheffield - Multiple personal bests
2006 IPC World Championships, Durban - 100m Backstroke 4th place
2007 IWAS Games, Taiwan – Multiple Personal Bests
2008 Paralympic Games, Beijing - 100m Backstroke 16th
2010 IPC World Championships, Eindhoven - 100m Backstroke 7th place & 400m Freestyle 4th place
2011 Para Pan Pacific Championships, Edmonton Canada - 4 Bronze Medals
2011 All Africa Games, Mozambique - Silver & Bronze Medal
2012 Paralympic Games, London - 400m Freestyle 7th place & 100m Backstroke 7th place
2015 IPC World Championships, Scotland - 400m freestyle 5th place
2016 Paralympic Games, Rio de Janeiro - 400m freestyle 7th place and 100m backstroke 9th place
2017 USA Adaptive Climbing Nationals, Massachusetts - 3rd place
2018 IFSC World Climbing Championships, Austria Innsbruck - 6th place
2019 USA Adaptive Climbing Nationals, Ohio - 3rd place
AWARDS
Awards
2010 The University of Pretoria Student Award
2011 Nedbank Ambassador & Torch Bearer
2011 South African Sport Association for the Physically Disabled - Brand Ambassador & Torch Bearer
2011 The South African Sports Women of the Year with a Disability (Nominee)
2012 The University of Pretoria Student Award
2014 The University of Pretoria Student Award
2015 The University of Pretoria Female Sport Student of the Year (Nominee)
2015 Awarded Honouree Member of the South African Vascular Society
2016 The University of Pretoria Female Athlete of the Olympic Year (Nominee)
MOTIVATIONAL TALKS
Major Speaking Engagements
North Face - In partnership with Paradox Adaptive Climbing Emily spoke on the importance of adaptive climbing in the community at the Music Hall of Williamsburg in New York City.
Nedbank - One of the largest banking groups in South Africa. Emily did multiple motivational talks to their employees on finding motivation in the workplace and managing adversity. Emily also spoke at sporting events were Nedbank was the main sponsor.
Total South Africa - A French multinational integrated oil and gas company and one of the seven "Supermajor" oil companies in the world. Emily spoke at their annual employee Wellness Day. The talk was on the 5 main illnesses in society and how to best avoid and /or manage them.
Rooi Rose - An Afrikaans-language monthly women's magazine published in South Africa by Caxton Magazines. It is one of the earliest magazines in the country. Emily told her story to 2000 women affected by cancer at a CANSA High Tea event.
University of Stellenbosch Executive Development (USB-ED) - Educates high-calibre executive managers with strategic management responsibilities together to gain insight into their own leadership profiles and develop their knowledge, skills and professional networks. Emily gave her speech to all the graduates of 2014.
Tomorrow’s Leaders Convention by Old Mutual Bank - Is a convention hosts serval talks from leaders to discuss the current social and economic trends around the World. Emily was part of a panel discussion "South African Leaders under 30"
Pam Golding Properties - recognised locally and internationally as Southern Africa’s leading independent real estate group and the country’s most awarded real estate company. Emily spoke with rowing Olympic silver medalists Lawrence Brittain and Shaun Keeling on their experience in Rio 2016