Pride of Australia Medal nominee Roya Abdolhosini is an engineering graduate and a circus performer

BEING born with one leg hasn’t stopped Pride of Australia Medal nominee Roya Abdolhosini studying engineering and circus performance.

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WHEN people ask Roya Abdolhosini why she only has one leg, she first likes to string them along with an elaborate tale.

“I love telling stories. Sometimes it might be a shark story, sometimes a cat story, but I like to string people along for as long as I can,” she said.

But Ms Abdolhosini has only ever known life with one leg — she was born that way.

The 25-year-old Blackburn South resident has been nominated for a Pride of Australia Medal, and she said she was excited and humbled by the honour.

DO YOU KNOW A LOCAL LEGEND? NOMINATE THEM FOR A PRIDE OF AUSTRALIA MEDAL

Ms Abdolhosini, who has a degree in engineering and is now studying for her masters in project management, is a talented circus performer, and performs incredible tricks, especially handstands, while using her crutches.

She said while she had a prosthetic leg, she preferred not to use it as it felt like carrying “dead weight around”.

It was her love of gymnastics as a child that ­inspired her to start performing.

“I was watching soccer on TV and someone scored a goal and did a handstand and I thought I don’t care about the soccer, I just want to do that,” she said.

Ms Abdolhosini is going to the US and Canada in August until the end of this year to take part in the AXIS Dance Company’s summer program, as well as study on exchange.

She is hoping to raise money to help cover part of her trip.

To donate, visit gofundme.com/royathedestroya

The awards recognise unsung heroes across the nation who have made a significant contribution to making Australia a better place to live.

The 10th annual awards will focus on unsung heroes across 10 categories.

For more information and to nominate a legend, go to heraldsun.com.au/prideofaustralia. Nominations close July 29.