Paralympics 2024: Vanessa Low wins third straight gold and has ambitions to break the six metre barrier
Buoyed by the birth of her son Matteo, Vanessa Low wants to push long jump barriers after her third Paralympic gold medal.
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Vanessa Low’s two-year-old son is inspiring the Australian long jumper to new heights.
Born in 2022, just two years after her first Paralympics gold medal for Australia, Matteo was in the Stade de France as his mum did it again, breaking a world record and winning a third straight gold medal
With her first jump of the night, the adopted Aussie from Germany landed a 5.45m jump, a new mark for all T61 athletes to chase.
And she’s dreaming of going even further.
“I think I can jump six metres, this is my next big goal,” Low said.
“I think six is possible. I want to break down barriers. Matteo changed me as a person, and I think he made me stronger, physically as well as mentally.
“He really put things in perspective, and to have him there, reminding me of all the tough days, but also those really rewarding moments.”
The best part for Low is seeing Matteo’s face light up as she bounds down the runway.
“Then the next day he copies everything when he goes to gymnastics, it’s just so special,” she said.
“This is probably my favourite moment in my career and probably life as well.”
Family has been at the forefront of Low’s preparations for Paris.
After her success in Tokyo, her husband and former Australian Paralympian, Scott Reardon, became her coach.
“I know it might sound cheesy but he’s my best friend,” she said.
“He’s really allowed me to gain confidence in myself. I actually now step on the track, and I feel like I’m really great at what I do.
“In the past, I was such a perfectionist and he gave me the confidence to say, ‘No, you’re bloody good at what you do, and just run and jump’.”
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Originally published as Paralympics 2024: Vanessa Low wins third straight gold and has ambitions to break the six metre barrier
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