Christie Dawes Australian wheelchair athlete Date of Birth: 03.05.1980 Country: Australia

1. Biography of Christie Dawes
2. Early Life and Accident
3. Early Success and Marriage
4. Paralympic Achievements and Controversy

Biography of Christie Dawes

Christie Dawes, formerly known as Christie Skelton, was born on May 3, 1980, in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia. She is an Australian Paralympic athlete who competes in wheelchair racing. Dawes has achieved remarkable success in her sporting career, winning a silver medal at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing and a bronze medal at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.

Early Life and Accident

At a very young age, Dawes developed an interest in track and field. However, when she was ten years old, she became a victim of a car accident. While she survived the accident, it left her paralyzed from the waist down, confined to a wheelchair. Despite her physical limitations, Dawes' passion for sports remained strong, and she managed to pursue her athletic career alongside her job as a primary school teacher.

Early Success and Marriage

In 1996, Dawes competed in the Paralympic Games in Atlanta, where she won the title of "Junior Paralympian of the Year." Three years later, she earned a bronze medal in the 10km Peachtree Road Race. Dawes participated in the 2000 Paralympic Games in Sydney and the 2004 Games in Athens, where she competed in an exhibition race in the 800m event. She also represented Australia in the Commonwealth Games held in Melbourne in 2006, finishing fifth in the women's wheelchair race over 800m.

In February 2011, Dawes married her coach, Andrew Dawes, and they welcomed their son into the world. She took a break from competing to focus on motherhood but later returned to the sport with renewed determination.

Paralympic Achievements and Controversy

Dawes faced a significant challenge at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing. During the women's 5000m wheelchair race final, she was involved in a crash along with five other competitors. Despite a broken front wheel, Dawes managed to finish sixth. However, controversy surrounded the decision to hold a rerace after protests from the Australian, American, and Swiss teams. Eventually, the International Paralympic Committee ordered a rerace, resulting in Dawes finishing outside the medal positions.

Nevertheless, Dawes's persistence paid off, and she earned a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the same Paralympic Games. She continued to excel in international marathons, winning a bronze medal at the New York Marathon a few months later. In February 2010, she triumphed in the international championship race for wheelchair athletes in the United Arab Emirates, winning the 10km event.

In the lead-up to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London, Dawes participated in various national competitions, winning three bronze medals. At the Paralympics, she competed in the marathon and the 800m, 1500m, and 5000m wheelchair races. Dawes secured a bronze medal in the 5000m event, and she finished sixth in the marathon.

Despite the challenges she faced, Christie Dawes has proven herself to be a resilient and accomplished athlete, inspiring others with her determination and perseverance.