Tasmanian student Tegan Dench may be short-statured but has high hopes.
14-year-old Blackmans Bay resident Tegan Dench has been selected to represent Australia at the World Dwarf Games in Cologne, Germany in July.
The World Dwarf Games is the largest international sporting event exclusively for athletes with dwarfism.
Tegan will be one of 40 Australian athletes putting on the green and gold for Australia and playing basketball for the first ever women’s team, as well as competing in swimming and athletic throws.
This is a dream come true for Tegan to represent Australia and compete with other short-statured athletes.
Tegan was born with a rare form of dwarfism which causes constant pain in her joints.
She had undergone three major hip operations by the time she was seven but none of this has stopped Tegan from pursuing her love for sport.
Tegan has been training in Queensland and Melbourne for the World Dwarf Games.
Soon she will be heading to the Gold Coast for the final training camp with the Australian team where they will receive their official Games’ uniform at a gala dinner.
Parents Matt and Laetitia said they are incredibly proud of their ‘little pocket rocket’.
“Her determination and passion have helped her push through the obstacles she’s faced in life so far, and last year we were over the moon when she reached out to the Short Statured People of Australia to meet with other people like her,” they said.
“She now feels she’s met her match to be able to participate in sport with other short statured athletes.”
