This Girl Can: Holly's story
Television adverts, social media posts and billboards across the land have advertised Sport England’s latest campaign This Girl Can. It’s a sassy celebration of women everywhere no matter how they exercise, how they look, or how sweaty they get.
The national charity, the English Federation of Disability Sport (EFDS) is supporting This Girl Can to ensure more disabled women can get involved in the campaign.
In January, Sport England’s latest Active People Survey was published. It showed that 121,700 fewer disabled people and 125,000 fewer women are regularly taking part in sport. EFDS believes that the results reinforce the importance of understanding and responding to disabled people’s needs and preferences much more effectively.
Campaigns like This Girl Can will play an important role in increasing the numbers of all active women, especially those living with impairments and health conditions.
Here, Holly Neill talks about her love for sport and her dreams for Paralympic glory.
Holly- This Girl Can
2013 Bronze World medallist, Holly Neill is an athlete going places. It is an important year for her, with medals up for grabs at the IPC Athletics World Championships. But she also hopes that next year, she will be on a plane to Rio to be part of Team ParalympicsGB.
At 26, Holly has tried many sports but her sporting dreams are now in athletics. She has always been interested in the sport, and was part of the 2009 World Dwarf Games in Belfast. She’s a field athlete and competes as an F41 athlete. (F40 and F41 are the classifications for athletes with dwarfism and restricted growth conditions).
Holly can be found at her regular training venue- Yeovil College Sports Academy- eight times a week. She’s coached by Andrew Roda at the Bill Whistlecroft Arena. She throws the discus and shot put, with personal best distances of 22.49m and 7.1m respectively.
“Pre-athletics, I competed in Para-equestrian dressage events at home international level. I was also on the TASS (Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme) this is where I met my current coach.
“Due to different circumstances I had to retire from dressage. Andrew was a throws coach and encouraged me to give discus and shot put a try. Also being involved with DSAuk, I played around with these events at their National Games and showed some potential.”
“In the same year (2010), I began my athletics career. I was selected to represent Great Britain in an IWAS World under-23 championship. I won gold in the shot put and never looked back.”
For many sports people with dwarfism, Dwarf Sports Association UK (DSAuk) plays a huge part in their careers. The sports charity aims to make sport accessible and enjoyable to anyone of restricted growth in the UK. Holly is one of those appreciative of the support she’s received:
“I'm very grateful for DSAuk’s support as it introduced me to and allows me to compete with people of short stature in athletics events. It gives people of all ages an insight to the possibilities that could happen if they choose to partake in athletic events. Competing alongside Paralympic athletes, including Sophie Hancock, really gives you inspiration. That’s why DSAuk is really important.”
As an athlete, Holly’s role models come from sport. She points to two particular British women. Multi-times medal winning swimmer, Eleanor Simmonds OBE. Eleanor is internationally recognised as a swimmer with Dwarfism. Also, Hannah Cockroft MBE, double Paralympic champion in the T34 100m and 200m.
“Eleanor is an exceptional athlete who shares the same disability as me, proving that being small in stature doesn't limit you to achieve any goal you set yourself!
“Hannah Cockroft, again another amazing para-athlete with a huge personality, who truly inspires me and brightens up every training camp and competition.”
What about Holly’s hopes for the future?
“We have the World Championships in Doha this October, so my short term goals is to be selected for the British Team for this event and medal. My long term goal is Tokyo Paralympics in 2020, but I am really aiming to make the Rio Paralympic team.”
