Winning on the Water

Hi,

I'm Vesna Aroha Radonich and I have been severely hearing impaired all my life.

But my disability has fuelled my drive to achieve in life.

My deafness was not diagnosed until I was 4 years old. The doctors told my mum I was just being naughty, but as a teacher my mum knew little kiddies were not just naughty.

I was fitted with my first hearing aids just before starting school. But being at school and looking different from other kids had its challenges and I was bullied and teased. Other kids used to tease me a lot for having 'bubble gum' in my ears!

Having a loving and supportive family helped me to cope with it all. I developed the resiliency and strength I would need to deal with the extra challenges life would throw at me.

My dad (Mladen) is Croatian, and my mum (Daphne) is part maori – Ngati Maniapoto. I know I would not be where I am today if it wasn’t for the unconditional love and support of my family.

My family is my number one value. They do so much for me; always being there to talk to, being a shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, a hug, someone to share laughs with & telling you like it is.

The road to my success was paved by their loving support and my desire to prove to the world that a hearing disability does not mean we are slow and stupid. Rather the opposite.

When I discovered Waka Ama (outrigger canoe racing) it lit a passion inside of me which has driven me onto becoming the World Champion in the sport.

This was still no mean feat, as one coach told me I was un-coachable. What she actually did, was fuel that passion further to prove her wrong. To prove to her and others, that I was not only coachable, but a world class athlete and winner.

I developed a ‘can do’ determination that has taken me to the top of my sport nationally and internationally.

My next big challenge is to win Gold at the 2012 World Championships.

Even though I am severely hearing impaired, I still set high goals for myself and have achieved more than many people with no impairment.

I do worry more now about my hearing going completely though, as I have lost all hearing in my right ear, with some residual in my left.

I have been told I will need a cochlear implant at some stage...so I am proactively preparing for that now. As I don't want to be isolated because of silence...my quality of life is about doing and being part of the hearing world.

And I don't want my disability to ever hold me back, when I know there are solutions out there to help me.