Finding her stride on the track and inspiring a generation of young women in Para sport.
On this International Women’s Day, we celebrate the courage, ambition and heart of emerging Para sprint star Amy Ellis — a young athlete whose journey is about more than times and medals. It’s about finding confidence, redefining belonging and showing others what’s possible.
At just 18, Amy is already one of New Zealand’s most promising young Para sprinters. Born and raised in Taranaki, she’s always loved running, especially cross country. But it wasn’t until she connected with the Halberg Foundation and Parafed Taranaki that sport shifted from something she enjoyed to something she felt truly meant for her.
“What first inspired me to get involved in Para sport was realising my vision impairment didn’t have to limit what I could achieve.”
Sport gave her confidence. It gave her goals. But most of all, it gave her belonging — a place where she could challenge herself on equal terms and see the dream of belonging to something bigger than she ever expected.
For Amy, seeing athletes who looked like her — especially women — was life‑changing. One person who pushed her belief higher was Irish Paralympic sprinter Orla Comerford, whose performances and poise in the T13 sprints showed Amy what was possible.
“Seeing other female Para athletes succeed showed me that my disability doesn’t limit what I can achieve.”
Now, as she races herself, Amy carries that same spark for the next generation — a visible reminder that young disabled girls belong on the track, in the spotlight and in the story of sport.
Amy’s first official Para athletics competition came at the 2024 North Island Secondary Schools Championships — a moment she remembers as a turning point.
“Stepping onto the track at that level showed me that I belonged in the sport — that all the training and effort were worth it.”
It was more than a first meet. It was the moment she realised her passion had a pathway, and that she was ready to chase the bigger dreams ahead.
Early in her sporting life, Amy struggled with feeling different — especially in mainstream team sports where she often felt “picked last” because of her vision impairment. Sport was something she watched from the sidelines more than participated in.
That changed when she found Para sport.
“Because athletics is an individual sport, I finally felt equal when I stepped onto the track.”
That simple yet powerful change — being known for her name, her effort, her grit — helped her see that belonging was not something to wait for, but something she could step into.
For Amy, International Women’s Day is about recognising strength, celebrating achievement and acknowledging the barriers women — especially women with disabilities — still face. It’s a day to honour the women who came before, and to make space for the women still rising.
“It’s about showing younger girls that anything is possible if we put our minds to it.”
Amy’s dreams are big — and they’re clear.
“My ultimate dream is to compete at the Paralympics.”
But her ambitions go beyond the track. She’s passionate about studying sport psychology and using her experiences to advocate for disabled people, helping shape a world where opportunities aren’t limited by perception.
