Indy’s Golden Run Caps Remarkable National Championships

NSW para‑athlete Indyana Wedderburn delivered an unforgettable performance at the national championships last week, walking away with four gold medals and etching her name into the record books.

Competing across multiple age groups and events, Indy contested the Under 15 para women’s 100 metres, 200 metres and shot put, as well as the Under 17 para 400 metres. Her efforts culminated in four national titles, and three world records for her classification T/F21 (ii2 classification), highlighted by gold medals in both the 100m and 200m, where she also claimed line honours.

Behind the medals and records lies an extraordinary personal journey. Indy who lives with drug-resistance epilepsy, has undergone two life‑saving brain surgeries, the first at just 22 months old, and the second at eight and a half years of age.

As a result of the procedures, Indy has had almost the entire left side of her brain removed, leading to vision impairment, intellectual disability and physical impairment in her limbs. In 2019 and 2020, her family spent extended periods living in Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, fighting daily to keep her alive as seizures controlled every aspect of their lives.

“Now we get the privilege of watching her play sport, be part of teams, and have friends who love and value her,” her family shared. “These are all things epilepsy had, for want of a better word, robbed from our family for many years.”

Indy’s athletics journey is relatively new, beginning through the school sport system, and later being included in the NSWIS Para Unit Program. It was there that she connected with coach and NSW Athletics Para-Coordinator Matt Rawlings, whose inclusive social running club has played a pivotal role in Indy’s development.

“Matt has been an absolute godsend to our family,” they said. “Through his inclusive approach, Indy has made new friends and absolutely thrived. He is an incredible human.”

The family also acknowledged State Teams manager Kerry Smith, whose care and openness have helped Indy feel welcomed and valued within the team environment.

Indy’s story is one of courage, resilience and triumph not just a celebration of medals and records“She is a fighter, and she shouldn’t be here,” her family reflected. “Now look at her go.”