Leanne Taylor

Started: She took part in her first Para triathlon eight months after the 2018 accident that resulted in her impairment. (leanne-taylor.com, 10 Jun 2023) Reason: She had been involved in gymnastics at an early age and did triathlons before she acquired her impairment. Two months after her accident, she was approached by a recreation therapist about trying Para sports. She then went to an indoor track to watch people train and she met Canadian wheelchair racer Colin Mathieson, who invited her to take a spin in a racing chair. "There's so many things that I couldn't do when I got injured that I really loved before. I played beach volleyball and as a wheelchair user it's just not feasible. Triathlon really felt like it was one of those things that was right in the grey area of, 'Could I do it? Could I not do it?' I think that was one of the things that made it the most special to me. Every time I went out and I trained, I was doing this thing that I thought I couldn't do when I was first injured - and then I realised it existed." (winnipegfreepress.com, 15 Mar 2024; YouTube channel, 02 Oct 2023; leanne-taylor.com, 10 Jun 2023) Ambition: To win a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, and to compete at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. (globalnews.ca, 14 Jul 2024) Additional Info: OCCUPATION She has worked as a compliance officer at a pharmaceutical company in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. "It's a balancing act to squeeze in two workouts a day with my work obligations but it brings me a great deal of joy to be able to manage both. Training can be a great way to blow off steam and re-focus. Having work as a source of confidence and purpose really helps me to hold my head high on the days when I fall short of my expectation in sport." (LinkedIn profile, 14 May 2024; medicure.com, 04 Jan 2023) FROM ENGLAND TO CANADA She was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, England, and relocated to Canada at age 10. (triathloncanada.com, 2023) OTHER ACTIVITIES She has been a member of the Manitoba Wheelchair Sport Association board of directors in Canada. (outstandinggrads.ca, 06 May 2024)