Athlete stories

Balance is Better in Action

3 Min

Letters to rangatahi: What I wish sport knew?

In this open letter, we hear from the Halberg Foundation’s Kiran Dixon. Kiran’s letter sheds light on some of the challenges young people with disabilities face growing up in New Zealand when it...

Balance is Better in Action

4 Min

The path to inclusion – World Champ para swimmer, Rebecca Dubber

Paralympic swimmer Rebecca Dubber spent most of her childhood being excluded from sport.  She “tried” to play a range of sports – her parents took her along to wheelchair basketball where the...

Balance is Better in Action

3 Min

Q&A with Balance is Better Champion, Samuel Tanner

Tell us a bit about you and where you grew up. I’m the eldest of five children with two amazing parents, Paul and Krissy. I am a Māori athlete and...

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Balance is Better in Action

6 Min Watch

“It’s about doing your best and enjoying it”: Dame Lisa Carrington’s Balance is Better story

There’s so much more to sport than winning or losing. For young people in particular, the value of sport is wide-reaching, from the social connections and bonds that are formed...

Balance is Better in Action

4 Min

Temepara Bailey on why young people shouldn’t specialise too soon

A considerable amount of evidence has demonstrated that most athletes who have the opportunity to play a range of sports in their youth are more likely to achieve an elite...

Balance is Better in Action

4 Min

Fighting for balance and inclusion – three-time gold medallist, Cameron Leslie

Swimmer Cameron Leslie may be a three-time Paralympic gold medallist and world record holder but he’s quick to point out that champions aren’t made at young age.  N.b. In July...

Balance is Better in Action

5 Min

“Don’t lose the joy” – White Fern, Suzie Bates

White Fern Suzie Bates grew up playing everything she could, chasing down her older brothers. She is now a Balance is Better Champion and after spending the past 18 years playing top level cricket, she can...

Balance is Better in Action

4 Min

Q&A with Balance is Better Champion, Jack Wang

Tell us a bit about you and where you grew up.  I’m currently a badminton player in the Badminton New Zealand Development Squad, and a student at the University of...

Balance is Better in Action

3 Min

Q&A with Balance is Better Champion, Stacey McKerchar

Tell us a bit about you and where you grew up. As a child I grew up on a farm in Mayfield, about 30km out of Ashburton. Having three older...