A blind pole vaulter has realised her dream by winning a
bronze medal in the Texas state high school
championships.
Teenager Charlotte Brown cleared 3.5m and was joined
on the podium in Austin by her guide dog Vador.
Brown developed cataracts at 16 weeks and had artificial
lenses inserted, but her vision began to worsen aged 11
and she is now blind with only a "jigsaw puzzle" of light
and dark shades.
"This story really wasn't about me," said the 17-year-
old.
"It was about everybody that struggles with something."
The Emory Rains student has pursued a medal for the
past two years, finishing eighth and then fourth before
taking third as a high school senior on Saturday.
Brown first took up pole vaulting, which is not a
Paralympic sport, in seventh grade because she wanted
something a little "dangerous and exciting".
She counts the seven steps of her left foot on her
approach, listening for the sound of a faint beeper
placed on the mat that tells her when to plant the pole
and push up.
"It took me three years to get on the podium, and I
finally did it," added Brown, who is heading to university
at Purdue on an academic scholarship.
"If I could send a message to anybody, it's not about
pole vaulting and it's not about track. It's about finding
something that makes you happy despite whatever
obstacles are in your way."
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