Para-cycling star Siobhan Terry knows the road to becoming a champion athlete is never straightforward. Despite the fact her goal to be selected for the Paralympic Games is firmly in sight after a breakout season, the former swimmer knows from experience that finding your true passion takes trial and error.
It’s been less than three years since the 25-year-old Rotorua athlete first jumped on a bike, but she’s already blazing an impressive path, taking out two silver and two bronze medals at the Para Cycling Track World Championships in Brazil late last year. Now she’s hoping her experience will inspire other disabled Kiwis to go for their sporting dreams.
Born with a club left foot that was twisted the opposite way, after multiple operations to turn it around, Siobhan has walked on tiptoes ever since.
“When I was younger, I didn’t see myself as having a disability,” she says.
“The main difficulty was buying shoes. I often wanted to purchase pink sparkly shoes, but instead I had to wear sneakers or oversized shoes to fit my splint in.”
Discovering para sport
After spending much of her early years growing up in Tasmania, where she tried ballet, hip-hop and gymnastics, it wasn’t until she returned to the Bay of Plenty that she discovered para sport and, at 16, won a gold medal at the New Zealand Secondary Schools’ Cross Country Championships.
“I was nervous beforehand because I wondered if I was disabled enough or even if I was too disabled,” she reflects.
“It was a real mind game, but I had lots of support and encouragement from those around me.”
Finding strength in swimming
With her disability in her foot, she quickly realised that running wasn’t the best option if she was going to achieve as a para athlete, so she pivoted to swimming, going on to become a national champion.
“One of the biggest things para swimming gave me was the self-acceptance of my disability and access to a community,” Siobhan explains.
“I gained friends who’ve become like family.”
While she had her first taste of para cycling five years ago, at the time, she wasn’t yet prepared to quit swimming. However, after she was invited to compete at the NZ National Para Cycling Championships in early 2023, she knew the time was right to switch codes.
Reigniting the spark
“Once I started to get into cycling, it reignited that excitement I had when I was a kid and I saw a real future in it.”
Training and competing in a steeply banked velodrome at speeds of more than 60km/h on a bike with no brakes is not for everyone, but Siobhan got over any fears quickly.
“It was exciting and thrilling, and so different to swimming, which was very upper-body dominant. With cycling, it’s all legs and I like the fact I’m using my disability to help power the bike. I always enjoy challenging myself and cycling has given me that capability.”
Balancing sport and advocacy
Winning a medal at the 2023 Oceania Championships in Brisbane was a huge boost. Since then, Siobhan has combined training six days a week with part-time work as a regional advisor for the Halberg Foundation in the Bay of Plenty.
Siobhan says, “When I was a swimmer and started to meet others with a disability, it became a part of my journey to put the word out and support others to have the opportunity to engage in sport.”
A setback on the road
Suffering a concussion following a racing crash last February led to several months away from training. After a period of intense headaches, Siobhan returned to training five months later and quickly made big improvements – exceeding her expectations by winning four medals at her World Championships debut in Brazil.
“I didn’t expect to come away with any medals,” she insists.
“I just went out there to give it my best. To win one medal was a shock – for it to happen four times was hugely unexpected. It definitely put me over the luggage weight limit coming home!”
Eyes on Los Angeles 2028
Now with her sights set on competing at the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games, she hopes to inspire future para athletes with her story.
Siobhan says, “I want people to be able to see the impact it can have when you pursue something you really enjoy. Finding a sense of belonging, especially in the disability sector, is very important
and sport is one means for people to find this path.”
