Marayke's Story.

Marayke Jonkers became one of Australias most revered paralympic athletes when she clinched two bronze medals for Australia at the Athens 2004 Games.Four years earlier she shot to prominence, qualifying for the Australian team only to finish an agonisingly close fourth at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics. Far from giving up, she persevered and went on to not only win two medals, but to complete two university degrees achieving the highest grades, volunteer in the community and launch a new career in journalism- all while in full training.

The world record holder for 100m butterfly in her s5 classification says the medals are the culmination of a lifelong dream to swim for Australia which was born after she became a paraplgic in a car accident as a small child. When her mother was told Marayke would never walk again, she taught her daughter to swim instead.
Now she hopes her inspirational story will inspire others to take up sport and follow their dreams.

Marayke has broken over 70 Australian records in breaststroke, individual medley, freestyle and butterfly.

After 10 years representing Australia, She is now the eldest and longest serving female on the Australian Paralympic swim team.
In 2004 she graduated from university with a Bachelor of Social Science, and achieved high distinction grades. By 2006 she had a second degree, in communications for which she received a deans commendation for academic excellence.

A tireless advocate for people with disabilies, Marayke's week often includes a visit to schools speaking to students about spinal injury prevention, or encouraging children with disabilities to take up sport.

As a a motivational speaker, Marayke is in increasingly high demand by corporate audiences.

Marayke was named the Queensland Young achiever 2005 .

Marayke has her sights set on writing the headlines as a journalist when  she retires from swimming. Her work has already been published locally and internationally, including exclusive reports on her experiences at the Athens Games.

But for now she is focussed on the Beijing Games in 2008, where she plans to break her own Australian records for 50m breaststroke.

Her achievements have lead to Marayke winning many awards and accolades, including:
• Queensland Young Achiever of the Year 2005
• Sunshine Coast Outstanding Paralympian 2004
• Olympic torch bearer, Sydney 2000 torch relay
• Young Australian of the year finalist 2004,2001

Academic Achievements

• Bachelor of  Social Science ( Community Work) graduated  2004. University of the Sunshine Coast.
• Bachelor of  Arts (Communication ) -  Journalism , Media Studies  and Public Relations ( University of the Sunshine Coast)

Sporting Achievements

• 2 Bronze medals, 2004 Paralympic Games, Athens in 50m. breaststroke SB3 classification and   150m Individual Medley Sm4 class.
• 2 Silver medals, International Paralympic Committee World Championships, 2002. Argentina.
• World Record, 100m. butterfly, S5 category . Brisbane January 2004.
• Gold medal  100m. breastroke, F.E.S.P.I.C. Games, Thailand, 1999.
• 56 Australian Age records in Swimming – 50m.and 100m.  breaststroke, freestyle, backstroke and butterfly
• 2000  University Sport – Northern Universities Sporting Blue Award
• 2005 . Current holder of Australian Records in 50m breastroke, 200m freestyle, 150 im, 50m breastroke, 100m breastroke, 100m butterfly.
• 2000 Australian Sports  Medallion –
presented by the Prime Minister
2004
• Sunshine Coast Sports Star of the Month for September ( Advance Sports Sunshine Coast)
2005
• Finalist :  Sunshine Coast Sports Star of the Year Awards,  
28th January 2005
Member of Australian Paralympic swimming team. Made debut on Queensland team at age 12.

Awards

Queensland Young Achiever 2005

Link to awards Australia website.... Link to University of the Sunshine Coast .... Newspaper article

The purpose of the Young Achiever Awards is to acknowledge, encourage, reward and most importantly promote the positive achievements of young Australians aged between 14 and 26 years. Marayke won the Coates Hire sports Award, before taking out the overall award from a field of over 400 entries.

Outstanding Sunshine Coast Paralympian 2004

Winning this award fulfilled a childhood dream for Marayke, who grew up idolising former winners Jeff Hardy and Brendan Burkett. The Sunshine Coast Sport Star of the Year awards are held annually at the Hyatt, Coolum by Advance Sport Sunshine Coast. Marayke's 2 bronze medals made her a joint winner of the senior sport star of the month for September, along with Paralympic silver medalist basketballer Alison Mosely. Marayke faced stiff competition for the outstanding paralympian trophy from both Mosely and Equestrian brronze medallist Marita Hird.

Other achievements

2005-08 Australia Day ambassador, selected by QLD premier Peter Beattie. As an official Ambassador Marayke visits a different Council region each year to deliver the offcial Australia Day address and participate . In her speech Marayke says we should all "celebrate whats's great, mate!"

2005 Ipswich
2006 Wyreema
2007 Mitchell
2008 Kingaroy

Committees

Queensland's 150th Birthday Celebrations

Marayke is a member of the Q150 Advisory Committe, selected by QLD Premier Peter Beattie.Queensland celebrates 150 years of independence from New South Wales on 10 December 2009.This milestone provides a unique opportunity to celebrate Queensland throughout 2009.Celebrations will engage Queenslanders from every corner of the State.

http://www.usc.edu.au/University/MediaPublications/News/MoreNews/2005News/maraykejonkersawardnews.htm