Welcome to the website of Marayke Jonkers, Australian Paralympic Swimmer, Paratriathlete, motivational speaker, self leadership training expert and founder of the charitable foundation Sporting Dreams.
Marayke’s journey from becoming paraplegic in a car accident as a baby to a three-time Paralympian, has inspired people around Australia through her motivational presentations and media appearances.
Marayke won a silver and two bronze Paralympic medals as a swimmer, and later became Australia’s first female paratriathlete when she won bronze at the world championships in 2010. A former world record holder and current Australian record holder, Marayke won Queensland Young Achiever Award in 2005, has twice been a finalist in the Young Australian of the Year Awards, and has been an Olympic torch bearer.
She is currently writing her autobiography “Unstoppable dreams: self leadership to win”.
Since retiring from competitive sport due to injury in 2011, Marayke has focused her attention on helping the next generation of Paralympians through the foundation she started called Sporting Dreams.
She has appeared on television shows including Insight on SBS, Totally Wild on channel 10, and in publications including Cosmopolitan Magazine.
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WHAT DOES MARAYKE SPEAK ABOUT?
LIFE INSPIRATION CHASING DREAMS ACHIEVING GOALS OVERCOMING OBSTACLES
Marayke has spoken to audiences ranging from 10 to 3000, in venues as diverse as pre-schools and Parliament House. She has shared the stage with dignitaries including Premiers and the Governor General. Her story is of daring to dream big, setting goals and never giving up no matter what obstacles life throws in your path.
She uses sport as a metaphor for life as she weaves her own stories of achievements, medal-winning highs and injury-plagued lows, through practical tips each of us can use to lead a rich, rewarding life and overcome the obstacles Marayke says are ‘inevitable’.
“While we may not be able to choose what happens to us in life,
we can choose the attitude we have towards it. So choose to win,”– Marayke Jonkers.
Marayke has a special interest in peak performance, and sharing the unique ‘mind training’ strategies she developed during her sporting career to help audiences ‘step up to the next level’ and get that last 10% out of themselves.
If you are seeking a speaker on any of these topics , Marayke can help (and will customise the presentation to your specific goals and requirements).
- Peak performance
- Goal Setting ( and achieving – how to stick to your plans)
- Obliterating obstacles
- Disability & the Paralympics: Marayke is very passionate about promoting Paralympic sport and disability awareness and has fun activities to help participants experience Paralympic sport.
- Safety: Marayke has spoken to audiences about spinal injury prevention and workplace safety. As she says, “at the moment prevention is the only cure.”
- Self leadership: The art of getting the best out of yourself.
NEWS
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As a retired Paralympian who was inspired to take up sport watching the Olympics opening ceremony on television as a little girl in a pink wheelchair, an Olympic games is guaranteed to get the heart rate going and the memories flowing. But I have been pleasantly surprised to see just
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Marayke is Proud to have been announced as the QLD Ambassador for the National Injury Insurance sheme (NIIS) by the treasurer Curtis Pitt and Minister for Disabilities Coralee O’Rourke today outside parliament house in Brisbane. ” This is possibly the most important role I’ve ever had in my life,
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Marayke is incredible proud to have won one of just 25 positions available globally for retired female athletes to be mentored by business leaders in making a transition to becoming leaders outside the sporting arena. In partnership and support of EY, the WABN Mentoring Program is designed to harness the
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MOTIVATE ME MARAYKE
MOTIVATIONAL MINUTE- FREE RESOURCES
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It happens to the best of us, the alarm goes off in the morning we feel tired it’s nice and warm and comfortable under the doona and before we now look with missed an entire day or week of exercise because we promised ourselves will do it later but
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Did you see the movie “how do you know” where Reese Witherspoon is a champion softball player and has her whole bathroom mirror covered in sticky notes with motivational sayings, affirmations and goals? Well- No longer do we need to scribble motivational quotes on post-its to stick to our mirror-
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Vision boards have been all the rage in personal development for many everyone from Oprah Winfrey to our favourite movie stars attesting to their virtue and power. Once upon a time they were the domain of giant cork boards pieces of cardboard stuck on a wall. I challenge you to
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It happens to the best of us, the alarm goes off in the morning we feel tired it’s nice and warm and comfortable under the doona and before we now look with missed an entire day or week of exercise because we promised ourselves will do it later but never
Planning a holiday within Australia? Have you considered Sydney's accessible options--I've done all the hard work researching and discovering what DOESN'T work with a mobility impairment so you can kick back and enjoy your holiday. Read about it in Link Disability Magazine www.joomag.com/magazine/link-august-2016-volume-25-issue-3/0008793001469748837
#Paralympics The countdown is on till the end of the Paralympic Games literally on the score board and it's being done using facilitated communication equipment just like how I am typing this message using my voice !!!! Spot-on Rio about inclusion and ability not disability.Everyone has a heart was the message of the opening now to close we are reminded everyone has a voice if given the technology and opportunity to use it. Not sure I'm ready for this celebration of equality, elite sport and diversity to end. (Even if it did means another 11 sleepless nights!!!! ). I'm partying with you #MyParalympicFamily #ourteam. So many memorable history making moments. Super proud of our Sporting dreams athletes what legends with Lakeisha Patterson and Rachael Watson taking gold and Claire Keefer and Rheed McCracken and Susan Seipel all contributing to a top 5 medal tally. Everyone giving their all anddoing us proud. Enjoy. It. Guys #7olympics Australian Dolphins Swim Team @Australian Paralympic Team 7TWO
SUPER EXCITED ABOUT THIS: It's my birthday this week and to celebrate I decided to give YOU a present. You see this is a birthday I may not have lived to see after battling a life threatening infection and two surgeries in the past year- and having been bed bound the last 3 months. Faced with loss of life or limb and come out the other side I realised I have so many insights I want to share from my life as an athlete and journey to pursuing my dreams. The amazing performances by my friends in Rio convinced me the time is now, so if you're keen clickety on the link below and I cant wait to join you on a life changing challenge!! #unstoppabledreams #proudparalympian
www.marayke.com/challenge
Cheering on our Aussies competing on the penultimate day of competition. What a morning-Ellie takes her six Paralympic gold in s9 100m backstroke. Gold and silver to the dynamic duo Lakeisha Patterson and Maddie Elliott. Australian Paralympic Team@ Australian Dolphins Swim Team Lakeisha Patterson @madison Elliot Ellie Cole
Eight years ago today: Paralympic silver. What a timely Facebook reminder as I sit watching the Paralympics and see my friends and team mates Swim the house down. So grateful to have competed for my country at this level not once but three times#swimmingfamily #paralympics #memories #medal #greatful
Silver SM4 women's 150m Individual Medley. time sure flies..... what an amazing Day this was. I didn't know it at the time but I was swimming both injured and sick, but still broke the Oceania andAustralian record. loved sharing the day with Marion Jonkers and Dean Kuch and a massive thank you to my coaches Mike Williams, Rob McBroom, Debbie Jones and David Gribble- couldn't have done it without you all! The silver came after an agonisingly close 4th at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics, and 2 bronze in Athens 2004. Australian Paralympic Team Australian Swim Team Paralympic Games Photos by Marion Jonkers Photography