Marayke Jonkers- Australian Paralympic Swimmer, Paratriathlete, motivational speaker, and founder of the charitable foundation Sporting Dreams.

WHO IS MARAYKE?

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.

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.

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 preschools and Parliament House. She has shared the stage with dignitaries including Premiers and the Governor General. Her story is of daring to dream big, set 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 obstacle 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.”

Why the modifications are so life changing

Marayke can no longer access employment or continue her charity work as before due to a lack of transport.

“Imagine if every time you went to work you became bedridden in agony for up to a month because you had to use inappropriate transport” – this is a reality for Marayke now as when she travels to every motivational speaking job she is required to go in a car or maxi taxi and causes her extreme discomfort.

Imagine going from being so strong you can lift your body weight with one hand to being so weak you drop a piece of toast, and not only that, but being forced to stay at home because you cannot afford a suitable mode of transportation.

Yet Marayke remains motivated to continue working and contributing to the community. She has overcome so many obstacles through the thoracic outlet syndrome including an inability to type or use the mouse, to now using voice dictation to control her computer so she can continue her role as a motivational speaker, sharing her journey to becoming a Paralympian in the hope it inspires others to chase their dreams.