Teenager sets sights on Paralympics
A promising paralympian is close to learning if she’s made it into the squad for this summer’s games.
Eighteen year old Amy Conroy, who lives off Earlham Road, is in the select 12 of wheelchair basketball’s Team GB.
Amy Conroy started playing wheelchair basketball in 2007 after she lost part of left leg, having had cancer the previous year.
She started training with Norwich Lowriders and last year helped Great Britain win Gold in the 2011 Paralympic World Cup and Bronze in the U25 World Championships.
In September she became sponsored by UEA Sportspark, who are allowing her free use of their indoor courts as part of her training. She said the sponsorship has helped her enormously: “I’ve always been sporty, so hearing at the age of 13 I’d lose my leg was hard. But life’s now great, I have a false leg and have realised anything is possible if you work hard for it, plus I’ve totally fallen in love with this sport. Without the help of Sportspark it would have been so hard training every day, so I really appreciate this. It will make a huge difference.”
She is currently in the 12 person squad but needs to keep training and staying at the top of her game to be chosen for London 2012.
Former Director of Sportspark, Keith Nicholls said: “We have seen Amy training at the Sportspark and have been very impressed with her dedication and determination to develop her game. The challenge of making the GB team at the Paralympics is difficult for any athlete but to achieve this she needs regular access to a basketball court and we are pleased to support her by funding court sessions so that Amy can come and train at our facilities for free.”
Amy Conroy will learn in April whether she’s made the final squad for Team GB.
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