Martina Barber

“I am delighted to be a My Sport, My Voice! Ambassador because I enjoy sharing my experiences and inspiring other people to succeed. Having a learning disability is not a barrier to my success, so I hope I can be a positive role model for people to overcome any obstacles they feel they have in life.”

Here is Martina’s blog for Project: Great Interactions. Martina talks about her inspiring story and more.. http://greatinteractions.live/martina-barber/

Sport: Athletics

Represents: UKSA GB Team

Date of Birth: 12 May 1995

Based: Stevenage, Hertfordshire

Personal Best: World and double European champion in the T20 heptathlon at Inas Championships

Biography:
Martina was born three months prematurely and doctors reportedly gave her no more than 10 minutes to live. She defied the doctors’ predictions and has gone on to be become World and two-time European Heptathlon Champion in competitions organised by Inas – The International Federation for athletes with an intellectual disability.

Martina continues to conquer all before her and for the last two years she has been a member of the British Athletics National Para Talent Development Squad, which supports athletes who have strong potential of achieving a place at a Paralympic Games.

Since becoming a My Sport, My Voice! Ambassador, Martina admits she has grown in confidence both in and out of sport. She achieved a career best of 63.58sec as she won the women's 400m Para elite category at the 2015 Bedford International Games and has next year's 2016 Paralympics in Brazil firmly in her sights.