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Monday, August 22, 2016 • Issue 012
10 years an Idol
PROUDLY INDEPENDENT
TV CHATTER All the latest news from the world of television p.18
Teen swimmer off to Rio 15-year-old St Columba’s student will compete at the Rio Paralympics ERIN MAMO
Damien Leith to perform in Mountains p.16
Moon Festival on its way p.07 LOCALS UNITE Fight is on to save much-loved Leura Mall cafe p.05
A
t just 15-years-old, Jenna Jones will today begin her journey to Rio, to compete in the 2016 Paralympic Games. Jenna, a talented swimmer, will compete in a number of events as part of the S13 vision impaired team. “I’m excited now but I know when I go away I’ll be very nervous,” Jenna told the Record. The Falconbridge teen was diagnosed with Con Dystrophy when she was five-years-old, a degenerative eye impairment that makes it difficult for her to see details clearly and blurs colours together. “I have trouble seeing things from a distance but I’ve had to learn ways around doing things, so it doesn’t affect me too much,” she said. Jenna certainly hasn’t let her impairment stop her from achieving big things. Last year she broke an open age world record at the National Short Course swimming competition. Now she hopes to break a couple of personal bests in Brazil. “I just want to do the best I can do,” Jenna said. “I’d be really excited if I broke a PB, and a medal would be great.” Jenna will stop over in the United States this week to take part in a training camp before heading to Rio. Once in Rio she will be competing against swimmers of all ages. Jenna attributes a lot of her success to the supportive network she has around her, which includes her school – St Columba’s in Springwood. “My school has been so supportive, it’s actually really unbelievable sometimes I feel like they are more excited then me,” she said. “Mr Malone, Ms Hall and my Principal and Deputy Principal have all been really great.” Outside of school, Jenna said her parents and swimming coach, Mick Robinson, have helped her to get to where she is today. Mr Malone, who is the head of PE at St Columba’s, couldn’t be prouder of his star pupil as she embarks on the journey of a lifetime. “Jenna is a remarkable athlete, I taught her in Year 7 and she has always been a standout athlete,” he said. St Columba’s celebrated Jenna’s achievement last week by decorating the school in green and gold, and hosting a special farewell assembly.
Jenna Jones waves goodbye to her friends before jetting off to the Paralympics
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