Elie Enock

Started: She took up Para athletics in 2016. She then began Para powerlifting in 2021. (paralympic.org, 13 Jul 2022) Reason: She was introduced to Para athletics at a talent identification session run by the Agitos Foundation and the Oceania Paralympic Committee. Several years later, coaches encouraged her to try powerlifting. "I went to do gym trainings with the Vanuatu CrossFit Team here for my shot put throws and that's when two of my female coaches at CrossFit come up with the idea for me to start powerlifting, so they asked me if I was interested. I told them that okay, I'll try, and that's when I started doing powerlifting." (paralympic.org, 13 Jul 2022; tokyo2020.org, 23 Jul 2020) Ambition: To compete at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (abc.net.au, 10 Dec 2023) Milestones: She became the first athlete representing Vanuatu to compete in two different Para sports at the Commonwealth Games when she participated in Para powerlifting and Para athletics at the 2022 Games in Birmingham, England. (SportsDeskOnline, 23 Aug 2022; paralympic.org, 13 Jul 2022) Awards: She and fellow athletics competitor Ken Kahu were Vanuatu's flag bearers at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. (medias.paris2024.org, 28 Aug 2024) She was flag bearer for Vanuatu at the opening ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England. (paralympic.org, 29 Jul 2022) Additional Info: LIVING IN AUSTRALIA She moved to Stawell, VIC, Australia, in early 2022. She found work at a local abattoir through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility [PALM] scheme, and her employer has helped in her sporting career by organising coaches and training fields for her in Australia. "They really help me to continue because sometimes I have wanted to give up but they have really encouraged me. I'm so happy to be around a community that supports and encourages me. It is so friendly and being in Stawell, I feel like I am at home in Vanuatu." (abc.net.au, 10 Dec 2023) ACTING She has a passion for acting and says the activity helped her to overcome depression following her accident. She was introduced to acting at the Wan Smolbag Rainbow Disability Theatre in Vanuatu. "I had some really close friends that supported me and helped me to move on [following her accident], but I would still stay at home. I was really upset about the accident and the way people looked at me differently. The Wan Smolbag supported me greatly. The challenge is when I have to choose between training or [performing in] a play." (goodpeoplenews.com, 09 Mar 2020; loopnauru.com, 15 Jul 2019; dailypost.vu, 30 Jan 2019)