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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IN SEARCH OF AN OUTBACK LEGEND Nothing says Australia more than a postcard image of a rusty windmill and outback shed at sunset, the red earth stretching to the horizon as the odd mob of cattle – or even a stray camel – meander by. But just what are your
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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
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
Facebook Posts
Tonight on 60 Minutes Australia: the next chapter after surviving a shark attack for Glenn Dickson Survivor and my beloved cousin Jessie-lee Janssen. Was so lovely to catch up recently and meet baby Aurora Eva named ( after Eva Rock where Glenn fought for his life to come back to his family and meet his unborn baby). Such a special moment to see the generations come together and our grandmother meeting her 6th great grandchild images by Marion Jonkers Photography with John Borgh
Joined the Pitt crew on my birthday for the home games Commonwealth games team processing Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games . From the uniforms to data collection these guys are on the road for an awesome experience at their home games. Amazing to be on the other side of the fence and see what goes into getting a team to the games to think I used to just turnCommonwealth Games Australiaa 🇦🇺Australian Paralympic Teamm
Joined the Pitt crew at team processing on my bday - these athletes are heading for an amazing home games. Fun to see the action from the other side as a retired athlete – when I was swimming I never imagined how much work went in behind the scenes from making sure everybody is shoe sizes and passport numbers and medical details are collected to their family and friends uniform sizes, information for the media. Let's hope I did them justice!
PODCAST TIME: The world or work is changing- we now live in a world where a job for life is a thing of the past. Contract work and multiple transitions are the norm- the key to navigating this is the art of self 'reinvention' and self leadership. How can you turn this inevitable change from adversity to advantage- particularly to open up opportunities to previously marginalised groups in the workforce such as people with disabilities and parents etc who benefit from flexible work hours or working from home. Great chat self leadership and mindset techniques in the workplace for career development professionals by Career Development Association of Australia. www.cdaa.org.au/blog/highlights-from-2017-cdaa-conference
Highlights from 2017 CDAA Conference - Career Development Association of Australia (CDAA)
cdaa.org.au
We are the association for career development professionals in Australia. Our members help people make informed decisions about their careers and help organisations develop their workforce.
Marayke Jonkers shared Sporting Dreams: The Marayke Jonkers Sporting Dreams fund's post.
Fantastic catching up with Queensland Paralympians past, present and future at the Australian Paralympic Team athlete forums. Jordan Carroll was our 100's sporting dreams grant recipient and I loved hearing all about the custom ski boots he bought was his Grant, and his new career in tandem cycling. Can anyone spot Ekka the guide dog?
#psa listening to the lovely Jane Anderson speak about influencer marketing for speakers 😊