When asked about her childhood Madison de Rozario describes it as ‘not a huge part of her overall story’.
That’s because beyond the age of 12 the Sydney-based athlete’s story involves gold medals, multiple appearances at the Olympics as the youngest performing sportswoman and sponsorship with big name brands like Under Armour.
But to know how that happened you have to understand that at four, with dreams of being a ballerina, the now 25-year-old was struck down with the flu.
When asked about her childhood Madison de Rozario (pictured) describes it as ‘not a huge part of her overall story’
Even though her tiny frame fended off the common illness it developed a rare autoimmune disease as a result and her body began to attack itself.
Doctors fought off the disease but couldn’t save her spinal cord, which was permanently damaged from the internal fight.
And just before she started primary school her parents Dan and Renee were told she would never walk again.
‘I can’t really remember a whole lot about that time because I was so young,’ she told Femail.
‘I can’t really remember a whole lot about that time because I was so young,’ she told Femail
‘My sisters were really big on sport. I remember the basketball coach letting me try it out but I was so uncoordinated,’ she said
But what she does remember is still loving the feeling of being active – even though she couldn’t do ballet anymore – and competing against her sisters Michelle and Stephanie.
‘My sisters were really big on sport. I remember the basketball coach letting me try it out but I was so uncoordinated,’ she said.
‘He actually came over to me and said “You’re terrible at this but I’ve got a racing chair if you want to try it out?”.’
Out in the car park, aged about 12, she sat in her first racing wheelchair and decided that this was the way forward.
Out in the car park, aged about 12, she sat in her first racing wheelchair and decided that this was the way forward
Madison has gone on to win two silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast
Two years later she was chosen for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won a silver medal Women’s 4x100m distance racing event. All before her fifteenth birthday.
Madison has gone on to win two silver medals at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.
Her story is one of many successes in the last decade of racing but she’s open about it being challenging at times.
‘There has never been a time where I wanted to give up because I love sport so getting up and training is never an issue,’ she said.
‘There has never been a time where I wanted to give up because I love sport so getting up and training is never an issue,’ she said
‘But moving away from my family in Perth to where my coach is in Sydney was tough. Luckily I have a great support network over here.’
In between training for a place on the 2020 Tokyo Olympic team Madison is also trying to navigate her future as an athlete.
‘This profession means making a living is completely hedging on winning,’ she said.
‘I found that sometimes I was going out there and feeling extra pressure because I know this is how I make money… and it was getting too much.’
In a bid to ease those feelings the 25-year-old signed on to a new TV series called Secrets of the Money Masters, which follows some of Australia’s sporting stars as they address their financial concerns with money experts.
In a bid to ease those feelings the 25-year-old signed on to a new TV series called Secrets of the Money Masters, which airs on Saturday night
‘It was so far out of my comfort zone I thought I was going to say no,’ she said.
‘But my coach said everyone in their 20s should learn more about money at this age and she’s right, it’s really important.’
Whether you’re an athlete or self-employed it can be difficult to track your savings, so the experts on the show, including finance industry thought leader Vanessa Stoykov, are helping Madison manage.
‘It has given me so much piece of mind. I think athletes often worry that if they injure themselves their career will be over but that’s not the case,’ she said.
‘Overall the biggest thing I learned was to plan ahead and have a clear idea of what you want in the future.
‘Buying a house is daunting but that’s my end goal.’
The five-episode series of Secrets of the Money Masters will air on Channel 9 on Saturday, June 29.