Guy’s story: A life of overcoming the odds
Multi-talented sportsman Guy Harrison almost died as a young child and faced life in a wheelchair. But he’s now a member of the ACC-supported Para Sport Collective and is targeting a place at the Paralympics.
It’s 5am in the morning as Guy Harrison plunges into the pool at the Hastings Regional Sports Park. He has only one thing on his mind – becoming a Paralympian.
The 22-year-old from the Hawke’s Bay has a long-term goal of qualifying for the Paralympics as a swimmer. He’s targeting the 100m freestyle and backstroke.
“It would mean everything,” he says.
“I’ve always dreamed of representing New Zealand at the Paralympics. So to get that number and to be included in that legacy would be a special achievement.
“It would be awesome for everyone in the Hawke’s Bay who has helped me along the way and supported me in achieving my goals.”
‘Sport has saved my life’
Trying to qualify for the Paralympics is a long way from where Guy has been.
When he was three-years-old, he had a seizure lying on his couch at home.
“My eyes rolled back into my head, and I was unconscious,” he explains.
“I was dead for 10 minutes as they raced me to hospital and tried to resuscitate me. I was lucky to survive.”
Guy suffered cerebral palsy because of the seizure. He was encouraged to get into low-impact sports like golf and swimming to regain his mobility. Growing up, he needed to do five years of speech therapy just to talk.
“I had to re-learn everything. It all changed in a moment,” he says.
“If I hadn’t kept my body moving, it was likely I would’ve spent the rest of my life in a wheelchair. Sport has literally saved my life.”
His dad signed him up to be a junior member at the Awatoto Golf Club and he went on to Maraenui Golf Club. He plays off an eight handicap.
In 2022, he was named as the All-Abilities Golfer of the Year by Golf New Zealand.
“Golf has always been my true love,” he says.
“I love being outside with mates and traveling around playing different golf courses. It was a huge honour to be All-Abilities Golfer of the Year after winning three events during the year.”
A return to the pool
Guy was also a talented runner. He won silver in the 800m at the World Junior Para Athlete Championship in Switzerland in 2017.
But he had Achilles surgery in 2021, which ended that dream and led to him getting back in the pool.
“I’d always loved swimming and had used it to keep myself moving. I thought to myself, ‘I’ve always been a good swimmer, I just needed to commit myself to give it a crack’.”
Cameron Leslie, Disability and Para Swimming Participation Manager at Swimming New Zealand, has been impressed with Guy’s perseverance.
“Guy has stuck to the course of becoming a better Para swimmer and understanding it doesn’t just happen overnight,” says Cameron, who is a renowned Paralympian himself after winning three gold medals.
“He’s had to buy into the training required to shift from being a person living with a disability with athletic potential, to a Para swimmer chasing the dream of representing New Zealand at top-tier internationals like World Championships and Paralympic Games.”
ACC partners with Paralympics NZ to support athletes
Now Guy is part of the Para Sport Collective and chasing higher honours.
“It’s so cool to be part of a group of athletes who are all aspiring to do the same thing,” he says.
“It’s been awesome to be able to gain some more knowledge to help my own development but also have connections which will help further down the track.”
The Para Sport Collective, a Paralympics New Zealand initiative supported by community partner ACC, is for those in the pre-high performance stage of the Para sport pathway, where a need was uncovered for greater support and community.
“Sport has the power to improve lives and minimise the impact of injury – something we believe in strongly at ACC,” ACC chief executive Megan Main says.
“That’s why I’m so thrilled that ACC is supporting this pre-high performance stage of their journey.”
ACC CEO Megan Main, in red, with Paralympics NZ CEO Fiona Allan, Para athlete Siobhan Terry and Para cycling coach Jack Cooper at the launch of the Para Sport Collective.
‘Anything is possible’
Away from sport, Guy is in the final year of studying for a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science.
“It’s been great bringing a diversity and inclusion lens to all of this work,” he says.
He believes the support of his parents has helped him get to this point.
“They instilled in me early on the mentality that anything is possible and encouraged me to chase my dreams. If you love what you’re doing, and work hard, then you can achieve great things.”
Guy has good advice for any young people living with a disability who may be unsure about their future.
“Find your passion,” he says.
“Whatever it is, invest in some sort of recreational activity to keep your body moving. Enjoy life and do the things you love to do.
“I know you’ve gone through heartache and pain but there is light at the end of the tunnel. Take small steps and keep moving forward.”
What is the Para Sport Collective?
- The Para Sport Collective, a Paralympics New Zealand initiative supported by community partner ACC, is for those in the pre-high performance stage of the Para sport pathway, where a need was uncovered for greater support and community.
- A total of 20 coaches and 22 Para athletes have been selected for the first cohort of the Para Sport Collective.
- ACC and Paralympics NZ believe participation in Para sport has a positive impact on wellbeing and rehabilitation.
- The aim of ACC is to motivate and inspire people to lead active lives, through positive role models and opportunities to try Para sport – at any level.
