Marayke Jonkers

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Marayke Jonkers is a Paralympic medal winning swimmer and motivational speaker from Queensland, Australia.

She won two bronze medals at the Athens 2004 paralympic Games, now she hopes her inspirational story will inspire others to take up sport and follow their dreams.

The 24-year-old from Queensland's Sunshine Coast became paralysed in a car accident as a child, but has broken the world record for 100m butterfly, and has broken over 60 Australian records in breaststroke, individual medley, freestyle and butterfly.

Marayke's Paralympic dream began as a small child when she saw the Olympics on television, and was captivated by the idea of racing athletes from �all over the world.

By age two she could swim across the pool unaided, represented Queensland at age 12 and went on to compete for Australia in New Zealand, America, Thailand, Germany, Holland, England, Canada, Argentina and Greece.

In 2004 she graduated from university with a bachelor of social science,and achieved the high distinction grades. By 2006 she had a second degree, in communications for which she received a deans commendation for academic excellence. Not wanting her brain to go ‘soggy’ with all the swimming, she is now working as a freelance writer.

Marayke showed great courage deciding to backpack through Greece, Egypt and Europe after the Athens Games.

The five month adventure involved challenges ranging from getting wheelchair through the ruins of Pompeii in Italy to skiing lessons in Switzerland and riding a camel at the great pyramids in Egypt.

Marayke now works as a motivational speaker for corporate audiences. She also visits schools where she conducts disability awareness sessions and encourages students to play sport and lead an active healthy lifestyle.

She was named the Queensland Young Achiever 2005 by the Premier[1]. She has twice been a finalist in the young Queenslander of the Year Awards and the Young Australian of the Year Awards.

In 2007 she was named the annaugural winner of Cosmopolitan magazines 'fun fearless female award' www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Paralympian-wins-10000-Olympic-grant/2007/09/04/1188783224778.htmlrecognising Australia's most inspirational women who are encouraging others to pursue their dreams [2]. Part of the prize was a photoshoot www.sunherald.com.au/parties/gallery.html?cID=893681802 and marayke's story appeared in the December issue of the magazine.

After years of making the headlines for swimming, Marayke has her sights set on writing the headlines as a journalist.

She is currently in training for the Beijing paralympic Games.

Quick facts

DOB 13/09/1981 Place of birth Hobart,Tasmania Sport: Swimming Disability: paraplegic (t5 level) Sporting classification s5 (freestyle,backstroke,butterfly), SB3 (breaststroke), SM4 (individual medley)

Awards and Achievements

2007- Winner of 'fun fearless female awards' run by Cosmopolitan magazine 2006 Finalist Young Queenslander of the year Awards 2005 Winner Queensland Young Achiever of the Year Award 2005 Named Australia Day Ambassador by QLD Premier www.australiaday.gov.au/pages/page113.asp 2004 Two bronze medals at Athens paralympic Games, Greece 2000 Australian representative at Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. 2000 Olympic torch bearer

Paralympic results

Athens 2004

50m breaststroke bronze. 1.02.82 Australian record 150m individual medley bronze 3.26.80

Sydney 2000

50m breaststroke 1.04.25 4th Australian record

150m individual medley 6th 3:35.78

Links

Australian Paralympic Committee [3]

Swimming Australia

[4]

Graduate careers Australia

[5]