In early June Rebecca Mathers represented Australia at the quadrennial Virtus Global Games in shot put, discus, javelin and hammer.
The Virtus Games is the largest sporting competition for intellectually impaired athletes in the world.
This was Rebecca’s first overseas competition representing Australia, after competing for Australia in Brisbane late last year.
After traveling for over two days from Hobart to France, she had two days to settle in prior to competing.
The athletics events started in earnest on June 6 and Rebecca competed in the qualifiers for shot put and discus.
These two events were within an hour.
The shot put was used as a warm-up for the discus.
In the discus Rebecca qualified for the 12 person final after finishing 11th in the preliminary.
The final was held the following day.
In the final for the discus, Rebecca stepped into the ring and threw her best series of throws ever in that event to finish 10th with a new state record.
On the third day Rebecca headed into her favourite event, the javelin.
This event was a straight final, and Rebecca fouled her first throw but on the second throw she found her radar and for the next three rounds she pushed hard to increase her distances.
Her best throw had her placed in eighth position.
This is where she finished.
Two of her throws bettered the previous state record.
On day four Rebecca competed in the hammer to assist her teammate Lillee Wakefield who was an outside chance for a medal.
Lillee with assistance from Rebecca medaled with a two metre personal best and an Australian record.
Even though Rebecca put aside her own competition performance she still managed to break the state record and finish eighth.
Rebecca competed sensationally well in her first overseas trip, met new friends and showed what she is capable of.
