17 Year Old Young Woman, Who Is Blind, Wins Bronze At Pole Vaulting

A friend sent me a link to a news article about a young woman, who is a pole vaulter, and also blind.
It was brilliant to read about her winning a Bronze medal in her state of Texas, USA, high school championship.

Charlotte Brown

Charlotte Brown, who is just 17 years old, was joined on the winners podium by her Guide Dog, Vador.

Charlotte with Vador

Charlotte developed cataracts at 16 weeks of age, and had artificial lenses inserted. Her vision began to worsen when she was around 11 years old, and now, at the age of 17, she is classed as 'legally blind'. Her only vision is what she describes as a 'jigsaw puzzle' of light and dark shades.

Charlotte has been training in her pursuit of winning a medal for the past two years. She finished eighth, and then fourth in previous attempts, and then won third place last Saturday.

Charlotte first took up pole vaulting, which is not a Paralympic sport, in seventh grade because she wanted something a little, as she says - "dangerous and exciting".

Charlotte says that she counts the seven steps of her left foot on her approach, listening for the sound of a faint beeper placed on the mat that tells her when to plant the pole and push up.

Charlotte Brown

Charlotte says ;

"It took me three years to get on the podium, and I finally did it."

"If I could send a message to anybody, it's not about pole vaulting and it's not about track. It's about finding something that makes you happy despite whatever obstacles are in your way."

"This story really wasn't about me."

"It was about everybody that struggles with something."

What an amazing young woman. She proves that barriers are only there to be vaulted over, and are not there to stop her from achieving her dream.