Defying regular and traumatic seizures, 17-year-old Charli Gardiner-Hall has won medals and broken national age-group records in discus, shot put and javelin.
The Waiuku-based student is racking up some impressive results in para-athletics, but her neurological condition means she lives in trepidation of the next seizure episode.
Born with Sturge Weber syndrome type 3, Charli struggles with balance and coordination issues. However, it’s the seizures, which occur as regularly as twice a month, that cause the most concern.
“When I haven’t had one for a long period, I fear it’s going to be a big one,” explains Charli. “It’s quite scary when you don’t know when they’re going to happen.”
Back in December, Charli had a near-fatal seizure while swimming at Oakura Beach in Taranaki. Unable to move and drowning, the teen was rescued by a quick-thinking former lifeguard.
“The seizure knocked me under the water and the waves kept tumbling over me,” recalls Charli. “The next thing I remember is being dragged out.”
Her mum Kylie – who had momentarily turned away, having been watching Charli from the beach – recalls, “I was in disbelief that this could be happening and felt so guilty. I was desperate for her to be OK.”
Charli – who lives with weakness down the right side of her body, which is caused by the condition affecting the left side of her brain – finds understanding language and writing difficult.
Kylie notes that school can be challenging, explaining, “Charli’s filing in her memory bank is a bit like her bedroom in that it can often be a bit messy!”
Yet competitive Charli has never let her condition define her. Kylie recalls her impressive resilience shown as a young girl when the family competed in mud runs.
“Because of the body weakness and impaired coordination, Charli used to trip over a lot, picking up bruises and grazes,” tells Kylie, 52.
“Her dad Paul would pull her along and she would finish the race in tears.
“After each race, I thought there was no way she would want to run another one,
but because her older brother Quinn was running, she’d want to do another one. Whatever he did, she would also want to do too. One of Charli’s most amazing qualities is her ability to bounce back.”
As Quinn, 19, competed at Waiuku Athletics Club, Charli would follow suit. She tried a range of events, including middle-distance running, long jump and race walking but would often struggle towards the back of the field.
However, it was during one of Quinn’s training sessions that Charli’s athletics career was to take a new turn. Paralympian and coach John Eden was at the session, and he asked Kylie if she had any other kids. When she pointed to Charli and explained her medical condition, it acted as a “lightbulb moment”.
Kylie explains, “That’s when John said, ‘It sounds like Charli has a disability − she might be a para-athlete’. We’d never really thought about it at that point.”
Connecting with John from the age of 12. Charli found purpose as an athlete and an outlet for her competitive instincts.
After trying several events, Charli found she had an aptitude for throws, and she moved into shot put, discus and later javelin.
“I liked the competition,” admits Charli.
“I might lose sometimes, but I always enjoy it. It’s always fun learning about athletes with other disabilities and finding new friends.”
Coached by John, himself a four-time Paralympic medallist, the pair have thrived. Training six times a week − including three early gym sessions, which requires the alarm to ring at 4.15am. It is a huge effort, although Charli’s disability does create challenges.
“Because of the weakness down one side of the body and the coordination issues, it can be hard for Charli to control the throws in the circle and she can quickly get dizzy,” tells Kylie.
“Yet she never complains and with the help of John – the technical brain behind Team Charli − the pair manage to figure out the best way of throwing.”
Charli harbours big ambitions for the future.
“I would like to compete at the Para Athletics World Championships and the Paralympics to prove to others that if I can do it, anybody can go as far as possible.”
Kylie adds, “Athletics has been one of the most important anchors in Charli’s life. She’s had some hard times and felt really low, particularly because learning has been challenging.
Friendships have been tricky, but athletics and para-sport have been this bright light, giving her confidence and the opportunity to be successful.”
