Summer Success for Strivers

2022 was rounded off with some wonderful news for the Down syndrome community in general with not one but two self-advocates hitting the headlines!

Luka Willems from Christchurch qualified for the Virtus Global Games following six weeks of international competition in December, making him the only athlete with Down syndrome representing Aotearoa in the pool. He is also the first athlete from New Zealand to compete at the World Down Syndrome Championships which were held in Portugal last year. Not satisfied with just that record, he then went straight on to the Virtus Oceania Asia Games in Brisbane, where he became the first Kiwi athlete with Down syndrome to compete. There, he won bronze in the 50m freestyle and three fourth-place positions as well.

Cameron Leslie is a three-time Paralympic gold medallist and Swimming NZ manager who travelled with the team to Brisbane. He told the Otago Daily Times, “Willems is a unique athlete in the way he is “blazing a trail for others living with Down syndrome and swimming. While as a swimming nation we are very early into our Down syndrome inclusion, we are committed to helping Luka and the next generation of swimmers with Down syndrome who haven’t made it into our competitive events as yet.”

This year, Luka will be off to France to take his place at the Virtus Global Games, so get ready to cheer him on from home! Slightly further south in Dunedin, Carlos Biggemann won the Stephen Thomas Award at the My Perspective Photography Competition, an international competition run from the Langdon Down Centre in the United Kingdom. The Award is highly prestigious, and this is the second win for Carlos: an incredible achievement. The winning photograph is “Where God’s Face is Hidden.” Carlos told the Otago Daily Times:

On a foggy morning, my parents and I drove on Highcliff Rd and it was such a beautiful day - no wind, neither cold. From my left-hand side window, at the back of the car, I saw this landscape of the tips of the hills which were covered by fog…It caught my attention and so I photographed it and I cannot regret it. The Awards were held at the Langdon Down Centre in Teddington, UK, and were hosted by the actress Sally Phillips, herself the proud Mum of three including a son with Down syndrome. Ms Phillips said “It was an absolute delight to be part of this event… I was so impressed by the calibre of photography on display. Congratulations to Jonathan, Lucia, and Carlos, the shortlisted finalists, and all those around the world who got involved and took part.”

How thrilling to see Kiwis with their names in lights on the world stage! You can purchase your own Carlos Biggemann photography prints at carlosbiggemannphotography.com Have we missed any news from you or someone you know? Email editor@nzdsa. org.nz and you could be in the next Chat 21!