‘I am very big on accessories’: New leg for Invictus Games athlete Ainsley Hooker

An amputee has created a one-of-a-kind, Aussie-themed prosthetic leg for her trip to Germany. Find out what she’s doing in Europe.

Giru woman Ainsley Hooker is currently in Germany representing Team Australia in the Invictus Games, but before she flew off, she had to pick something up. A new leg.

Specially made for the games, and debuted for the first time at the Invictus opening ceremony, the prosthetic limb is Aussie themed.

“This is a new leg for use in athletics – shot put and discus – with the potential to be

adapted for running. I trialled so many different legs, including running blades, and

for a while I was trialling a new one every six weeks trying to find the one that best

suited my needs,” Hooker said.

“This new leg is amazing. It has a small blade and a heel so you can rest and stand

still comfortably. It’s light, it bounces and it’s springy too, with a pivot in it that takes

pressure off my knee so walking in it is just beautiful.”

Team Australia competitor Ainsley Hooker shows off her new prosthetic leg with Invictus Games inspired artwork at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dsseldorf, Germany.

Credit for the green-and-gold paintwork goes to Hooker’s father-in-law, Dave Hooker, who turned his car restoration spray-painting skills into ‘legwork’.

More detailed work was done by NQ Custom Signwriting, which applied logos featuring the tri-nations, a Southern Cross, a kangaroo and the Australian coat of arms.

Team Australia competitor Ainsley Hooker (right) unveils her new prosthetic leg with Invictus Games inspired artwork with husband Jayson Hooker at the Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dsseldorf, Germany.

Due to the precision work required, the final design was only finished two days

before Hooker flew out of Townsville to meet the rest of Team Australia in

Sydney.

“I’m not sure how I’m going to go walking around wearing it every day, but it’s a reminder of how far I’ve come and what I’ve achieved. I’m very proud,” Hooker said.

“I think it will become my every day leg.”

She said she was excited to show off her new ‘accessory’.
“Anyone who knows me knows I am very big on accessories,” she said.

“I’ve got the different hair bows happening; the different earrings for every day, and I

decided that my prosthetic leg needed to match the uniform too.

Invictus Games Düsseldorf 2023 began on Saturday, September 9, and will run until September 16.

Originally published as ‘I am very big on accessories’: New leg for Invictus Games athlete Ainsley Hooker