Have you ever met someone that makes you feel bigger than yourself? It’s an incredible gift to give hope or the belief you can be more.
Today I met New Zealand Paralympian, Tim Prendergast, an incredible individual. I applaud all high achievers for their dedication, determination and perseverance – absolutely noteworthy and due respect – but seldom do you meet someone who surpasses ordinary parameters and is just an outstanding, inspiring and incredible individual. That was my experience with Tim.
Tim came to speak at our Staff Development Day and truly, I wish everyone could have heard his story. Inspirational, affirming and incredibly moving. It profoundly touched me.
Through video Tim took us to the Beijing Olympics where he struggled to finish the 5,000m. It was heartbreaking to watch. Having pushed his body harder than he ever done before, we saw it start to break down. First the shakes. Then wobbly legs. And finally collapsing at the finish line.
He found himself in the changing room of the Bird’s Nest Stadium focussing on failure. Berating himself and mentally stripping himself of titles such as New Zealand Team Captain and Paralympian.
A thought formed in the despair. It spoke of the journey to Beijing.
As a child in New Zealand, Tim dreamt of being a 'black cap' (playing for the NZ Cricket Team) with a healthy boyish love for all things cars and mechanical. When he was 9, he looked out the living room window and saw a black fuzzy spot on the horizon. Despite blinking, it didn't go away. He kept quiet. Several weeks later, several spots appeared and his teacher started noticing how he squinted at the blackboard. He was then diagnosed with an extremely rare eye condition that meant he would be 90-95% blind.
His dreams were dashed. No playing cricket. No driving cars. No eye-contact. He thought he would spend his life on disability doing a mediocre job that 'blind people can do'. As he entered his teenage years, he walked oozing despair and difference.
Year 9 (aged 14), he started a new state school where sport was compulsory for Years 9 and 10. Being the ‘token blind kid’, he couldn't do the sports he used to do and loved (cricket, football) but he chose the one sport that he thought he could possibly do - running. His coach told him that if he wanted to take part, he would have to work as hard as everyone else. Looking back he can now see the concessions he made (no more running through forests etc), but that one moment made a lasting impact on his life. He became the same as his classmates. He ran his first race in Year 11 and came third and got Bronze Medal. In that moment, he found self esteem, confidence and hope. He also found a new identity: a runner.
He took us through the Sydney Olympics (Silver Medals) and Athens (Gold Medal), the heartbreak in Beijing then back in the changing room there. What a journey it had been. One that showed him what failure was. Failure was not trying – in the 5,000m he had been victorious as he had tried his best and 'emptied the well' so to speak.
Of the many things his coach said to him, the phrase that resonated with me was ‘Whatever you think of yourself, remember you are bigger than that’.
In short, Tim is one of the most inspirational people I have ever come into contact. I felt buoyed and incredibly moved at the same time.
There are 420 days until London 2012 Paralympics where Tim will be representing New Zealand in athletics. At the end of every day, he reflects if he has been the best he can be. And now, I will do the same.
Namaste.
