Born with dysmelia of the lower left arm, Paralympian Holly Robinson grew up in Hokitika, a small town on New Zealand’s West Coast. From an early age, her parents encouraged her to embrace challenges head-on, not letting her condition be an excuse for not doing things and fostering in her a strong sense of independence. “It was more you either do it yourself or you're going to be sitting on the sidelines. And I think I was very lucky in that respect because I had to learn quickly how to do things myself,” says Holly. This mentality led her to excel in various sports, including netball, basketball, and cricket, before discovering her passion for athletics.

While participating in a Para athletics competition at the age of 10, she was recognised for her potential to compete for New Zealand – a pivotal moment in Holly’s life. “Growing up without my arm, a lot of people put me into a box. Quite often people would tell me that I wasn’t able to pursue a sport because of my disability. And so, having a person at that competition saying that I could be really good, was a huge driver for me, it was massive.” This encouragement spurred her on to pursue athletics seriously.

With the guidance of her first coach, she trained for years making the best of limited resources. “And I think that's what is really special about my journey, we've just had to think outside the box, we've made do with what we've had, and we've been really resilient because of it”, adds Holly. Initially competing in discus, shot put, and javelin, she eventually focused solely on javelin due to classification rules to represent New Zealand in international competitions.

Holly was offered a scholarship in 2011 to train under Para athletics coach Raylene Bates, a big step towards her dream to be the best in the world. The following year she competed in her first Paralympic Games in London. Since then, Holly has participated and earned medals in several World Championships and Paralympic Games.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games will be her fourth Paralympics, and the first where Holly will compete in both javelin and shot put. Aided by a psychologist who taught her to focus on the process rather than the outcome, Holly says that mental preparation is a key aspect of her training. “This will be my first Paralympics where I’m the reigning medallist and that's been really challenging for me. We've had to work really hard particularly this year on that expectation,” she mentions.

Holly says representing New Zealand fills her with pride, and she cherishes the opportunity to connect with fellow athletes and share their inspiring stories. Throughout her life, she faced assumptions and judgments due to her disability. However, Para athletics allowed her to prove that with hard work, anything is achievable. She has also become an advocate for disability awareness, educating others on what is acceptable and respectful.

Looking ahead to the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, Holly remains open to future possibilities, including completing her master’s degree in teaching. Her message to others with upper limb differences is to try new things and not let others dictate their journey. As she prepares for Paris, she carries with her the hopes of a nation and a message of empowerment for all: disabilities do not define one’s potential.

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