By MARC MCGOWAN
MACCLESFIELD paddler Amanda Reynolds’ bronze medal from last month’s ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships is an ever-present reminder of her dream year on the water.
The 42-year-old has rarely let the medal out of her sight since returning from Moscow, where the championships was held.
Only 1.3 seconds separated Reynolds from the LTA (legs, trunk and arms) K1 women’s para-canoe 200m world championship, just three months after she won her maiden national title.
“It was awesome, because it was so close. It was like, ‘wow, I actually did it’,” Reynolds said.
“It’s the next step closer (to selection for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games). I think it would be just the be-all and end-all type of thing.
“Finally getting to that goal that we’ve been working on for the past year or so would be fantastic, but there are still a couple of years to go.”
The mother of two underwent elective surgery two years ago to amputate the lower part of her right leg.
She suffered chronic pain in the leg for about 20 years due to a central nervous disorder that caused her leg not to function properly from the knee down.
Reynolds, who studies equine sports therapy, remained positive throughout the life-changing process.
“I was ready for everything, because before the amputation we had to jump through a lot of hoops to make sure that was the right thing to do,” she said.
“It was more ‘OK, what’s next; we need to get through this and do the next thing’. I looked on the brighter side of it; that I would have a life once it was gone.”
Reynolds’ first canoeing experience did not come until after the operation through the annual Murray Marathon, which she completed with a friend.
She can’t live without it now and even intends to be on the water – at Patterson Lakes or Aura Vale Lake – in the coming weeks despite technically being on a break.
“I’ll just have a play on the water and get out and enjoy the scenery,” Reynolds said.
“I would go nuts if I couldn’t get on the water.”
She will also do some light gym work and mountain bike riding to maintain her fitness.
Reynolds’ next qualification race is in December, but she is already looking ahead to defending her national title in March next year and returning to the world championships.
“It’s an opportunity I never thought I would have and now I’m on it, I want to just drag as many people in just to give it a go – whether it be canoeing or another sport,” she said.
“I encourage people just to put it out there and give it a go and you don’t know how far it will take you.”
Reynolds’ success has earned her a Victorian Institute of Sport scholarship which will offer invaluable access to elite coaches, sports therapists and nutritionists.
She also thanked Australian head coach Guy Power and Patterson Lakes Canoe Club mentors Steve Vegh and Mark Dougall for their support.
