With support from a Mable Community Grant, 15-year-old Isabella ‘Izzy’ Vincent from Adelaide is raring to go at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham that will be conducted from July to August 2022.
Through its Community Grants program, Izzy has received $30,000 to spend over three years on vital equipment and access to training that will help the para-sportsperson start in her quest for a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games. Izzy's grant was made possible by the generosity of a Mable shareholder.
“I’ve been training hard this year, recovering from a shoulder injury that I carried through the Tokyo Paralympics. Making the Commonwealth Games team as the youngest member is somewhat surreal, but also very exciting.
“I’m looking forward to the Commonwealth Games experience and being part of the Australian team again. I will be trying my hardest, it would be great to get back to my best,” Izzy says.
Izzy’s first foray on the world’s sporting stage
Izzy made her debut at the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2021 as one of the youngest members of the swimming squad. But she didn’t let that hold her back, bringing home two medals, a silver medal in the Women’s 4x100m freestyle relay and a bronze medal in the women’s 4x100m medley relay.
Izzy first discovered her talent for swimming when she was introduced to hydrotherapy following an operation to help with a condition she was born with, Sacral Agenesis, which limits her ability to use her legs for activities such as kicking.
"I was born missing my sacrum and some vertebrae, which affects the muscles, ligaments, and nerves in my lower body. So I have a bit of movement, but I can't use my legs in the water," Izzy explains.
But it’s not just in the pool that Izzy excels. She is working to promote inclusivity and awareness and get information for people with disability about the options available to them for para-sports.
“I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to speak at some local schools. I hope I can help promote para-sport, trying your best and inclusivity. We are currently raising money to provide sports wheelchairs for physical education classes in schools to allow wheelchair users to interact in lessons with their classmates fully,” says Izzy.
Catching the eye of a para-elite athlete
Her achievements in Tokyo and future potential made her stand out to Kurt Fearnley, which is why he recommended Izzy for a Mable Community Grant.
“Izzy is an impressive young lady and is a great ambassador for para-sports.
“The financial support from the Mable Community Grants program will help elevate her training and keep her on track to reaching her sporting goals,” says Kurt.
Helping Izzy turn dreams into reality
Mable CEO Peter Scutt said Mable Community Grants enable people with a disability to achieve their goals in sports, the arts or business and technology.
“Mable Community Grants are open to individuals, groups or businesses whose project or efforts will promote inclusivity and independence for people with disability or people who are ageing.
“At Mable, we are dedicated to increasing the inclusivity for people with a disability and are passionate about working with individuals in our community, such as Izzy, to help her dreams of representing Australia at the next Paralympics come true.
“Many people with disability face barriers to full participation in life that many of us take for granted. However, with Mable Community Grants, we can provide small boosts of financial support to people and projects that improve independence and inclusion for people with disability and ageing Australians,” Peter says.
