With a broad smile and bright eyes, Rachel Hardy chats animatedly about earning the title of 2009 Wheelchair Track Shot Put State Champion at the state track meet in Des Moines this past May.
“It was so amazing and so fun,” she beamed. “It was my first time participating in sports, and my first time at state.”
“It was just awesome. We encouraged her the whole time, and told her she could do it,” said mom Sara of her daughter’s achievement. “We’ve always told her that.”
Rachel, the daughter of Les and Sara Hardy of Orchard, has been in a wheelchair since she was two years old, the result of a head injury in an accident. But she doesn’t like to dwell on that, nor let it get in her way. Instead, this fun-loving, bubbly 17-year-old who enjoys hanging out with friends, going shopping, studying English and History in school, participating in sports-her newest endeavor, and listening to 70s and 80s music, lives life with zealous determination and a can-do attitude. “I have some challenges, going different places on field trips and in sports, but I don’t let it stop me,” she smiled with unbridled enthusiasm.
This determination is exactly what carried her to the state finals in the first sport she had ever participated in, earning her the title of state champ.
Rachel embraced the idea of joining the track team this past Spring after encouragement from OHS Track Coach Bill Gruman and P.E. Instructor Lon Lawler, followed by the support of her friends and family. “It was different for me, but turned out to be a good different-it was a lot of fun.”
Coach Gruman credits a number of faculty in helping Rachel train for the regular season, including Lawler, Throwing Coach Larry Grein, and School Aide Ashley Alonzo. “Coach Grein deserves a lot of credit for his technique work with her and being an all-around advocate for her,” said Gruman.
Rachel’s regimen of exercises included weight lifting to build upper-body and arm strength and laps around the track to build up her cardio. “Normally, when someone throws the shot put, they put their whole body into it. Think about doing this from a chair, it’s really quite different; much more difficult,” Gruman pointed out.
During the regular track season, Rachel competed in the meets against herself, striving to beat her own personal best throw each time, as most competing schools didn’t have contenders in the wheelchair categories. As the season rolled on, Gruman said Rachel’s confidence grew, and in District action at Eagle Grove on May 15th, she qualified for state. At the state meet, held in Des Moines on May 23rd, her throw of 9’6″ was enough for not only a new personal best for Rachel, but also to take the state title as well.
“My family was very supportive, and they were all really excited for me when I won,” Rachel smiled.
“This really has been a remarkable experience for her to compete, her first ever sport,” said Gruman. “She always has a positive attitude that is quite infectious. She worked very hard in preparation for the state meet, carrying her usual smile and positive attitude. Too often we are held back by what we define as our own limitations. Rachel is a good role model in how each of us can always go beyond that and do more.”
This new found confidence, proven through her successful season and state win, opened her eyes to even more new experiences, upon her recent return from the 2009 Wheelchair Camp at UNI. A week-long program, Rachel said camp coaches worked with her and other wheelchair athletes from throughout the area, across the state, and even out-of-state on trying out new techniques, equipment, and even new sports. “It was amazing,” she declared, wide-eyed. “The coaches there taught you how to be more independent, to do more out of your chair and that you could do any sports.”
Among some of the new activities she enjoyed were tennis, basketball, racing around the track in a wheelchair racer, and her favorite, rock climbing. “I’ve never rock-climbed before. The coaches were pretty impressed because I volunteered to go first. I just went right up there and said ‘Hook me up,’” she enthused. “My first time I struggled a little bit, and got tangled up in the ropes. The second time, I got halfway up and next year, I’ll make it to the top! I’m kind of scared of heights, but I just decided to go for it!”
At the camp, Rachel also focused on track and field activities, including the shot put, and said she learned new techniques by using more twists in her throwing, ousting her previous best from the state meet with a new personal best of about 10′. “The wheelchair racer was a lot of fun, too,” she said, demonstrating how the specially designed wheelchair racer could make one go faster on the track by leaning forward. “I’d like to be able to use one to compete in the 100-yard dash next year.”
Some friendly competition may come her way next season as well, as Rachel encouraged others she met from the area to join her on the track. “At camp, I met some other girls who do the shot put, and hope that they compete next year, so I can see them again and compete with them.”
Entering her senior year this fall, Rachel’s got her sights set high in track and is already contemplating life after graduation. “I definitely want to go to college, but I haven’t decided where yet, or what major I’ll study,” she said.
Her brother Danny will also join her at the high school this fall, entering as a freshman. While some girls would think that having little brother around a hindrance, Rachel likes the idea. “I’m looking forward to him being at the high school, but he’s kind of sad because we will only be there together for one year,” she said.
Rachel’s also excited about another new milestone-getting her driver’s license. She passed driver’s ed and has been perfecting her driving skills in her red Focus, complete with hand controls in addition to the regular foot pedals. Her biggest challenge with this, however, may be racing dad Les to the car before school each morning. “My dad likes to drive it a lot better than his truck,” she giggled.
In the meantime, Rachel is enjoying a busy schedule this summer full of fun, friends and family, including her family’s upcoming trip to a lake house in Wisconsin. “This is our second year going there, and last year we had a lot of fun,” she said. “My mom and I went shopping at a lot of old-type shops, and tried not to get lost,” she laughed.
Seeing life as a series of new adventures, turning obstacles into opportunities, Rachel offers up the following advice to other kids in wheelchairs-wise words that can truly apply to anyone: “Don’t listen to people who put you down. Keep going, even when you get stuck. Follow your dreams.”
London, July 3 (ANI): Peter Andre has signed a 500,000-pound deal to become the face of Michael Jackson’s favourite designer Christian Audigier’ s hip range, Ed Hardy.
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The ‘Mysterious Girl’ singer was the star at a plush bash for the French designer on Wednesday at Movida in London’s Mayfair before heading off to dinner with old pal Dani Behr at swanky eatery Nobu.
“Christian had a meeting with Peter and they agreed for Peter to become the face of Ed Hardy in Europe. Christian is launching a new store in London this year and Peter will be a big part of that promotion,” the Sun quoted a source as saying.
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Andre told TV Biz that his split from Katie Price a.k.a Jordan helped him clinch the big-money deal. It’s amazing how stress keeps you trim. I might be looking all right, but I’m not feeling okay,” Andre said.
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“Given the circumstances, I’m not doing as badly as I could be. My favourite tipple is whisky on the rocks but I’m not having a lot because I want to be fresh for work. And I don’t really feel like drinking,” he added. (ANI)
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