Lavinia is going to Sochi !

Emily’s friend Lavinia Chrystal has been selected to compete at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics. Lavinia will represent Australia in the Slalom and Giant Slalom. The competition commences February 7th – see the Olympic schedule here

See the Paralympic Schedule here  7 – 16th March 2014

Well done is an understatement for Lavinia’s Olympic journey, she has persevered, she has cross trained diligently, she held herself steady through injury, she kept focused, she endured long periods of separation from family and friends – all done with humor, grace and determination to make her athletic dream come true.

What a joyous picture of Emily Bamford and Lavinia @laviniachrystal  as they celebrate their selection. The World will watch while these girls speed down bone shaking slopes – I know there will be butterflies in our stomachs as we will all be there with them!

Best of luck to the entire Australian Olympic and Paralympic Team.

My original post about Lavinia – see here 

Friendships are Special and Supportive

Silence ruled for a moment in our house.  Emily was reading the Wentworth Courier on her computer dated Wednesday 6th November as her friend Lavinia was featured. The girls have been great pals since meeting at Sydney University. Last weekend Lavinia waved goodbye to sunny Sydney and traveled to the snow fields of the USA as she is an Australian Olympic ski team member competing in Slalom and Giant Slalom categories. Lavinia is preparing for the Winter Olympics being hosted in Sochi, Russia in February 2014.

Emily called to me over her shoulder  “Have you seen this article?”

“No” I answer as I shimmy over, reading glasses perched on my nose to view the computer screen. Stunned silence as I read the article about Lavinia and her road to compete in the Olympics, representing her country, silence as my heart swells with emotion reading Lavinia’s generous inclusion of Emily in her interview.

Both these girls are inspirational as Lavinia is an Olympic athlete, determined, intelligent and strong. Emily, a quadriplegic, striving to resume her life as a wheelchair user, a new identity that is challenging her mentally and physically. Emily is working hard competing in the human race, representing disability.  A race that shows prejudice, discrimination and can be intolerant and ignorant towards any abnormality. Emily has to exude great inner strength to live, work and be accepted as an equal in her life long race. What these girls share is a friendship that is special and supportive. They share a love of life and stoic determination. I am passionately backing both to win their races.

Please read the article here  choose Wentworth Courier, 6th November issue,  go to page 7 for Lavinia’s feature.

Follow Lavinia on her blog here