Joany Badenhorst’s start in Para Snowboard was quite unconventional. She was on the Australian para-athletic team for 5 years and after a very abrupt retirement from her athletic career, she decided to take a hiatus from sport and finish her HSC. During that time, she desperately wanted to attend her Year 12 formal in a pair of high heels. She couldn’t afford an adjustable high-heel leg at that stage, and so her prosthetist set a challenge. If she could do all obstacles set out by him in heels, he would give me the leg for free. Joany remembers “Needless to say I got a free leg that day! Not only that, but I also got a call from the then Para snowboard head coach Peter Higgins who had seen me running around in the clinic in heels! I think the exact quote was “you are female, fit, and legless… Do you want to try snowboarding?”. A few months later she quit her job, saved some money, and moved down to Jindabyne.

Perseverance was key to everything she was able to achieve in her snowboarding career. After her devastating exit from the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games after an injury she sustained on the morning of her scheduled event she had to take a step back. She and her team set out an elaborate 4-year plan ahead of the 2018 PyeongChang Paralympics. Leading up to the Games, things really kicked into the next gear when Joany and her coach, Lucas Prem, changed up her training program in the summer of 2016/2017. By not focusing on eliminating her physical weaknesses due to her disability, but working to strengthen her body around them, they were able to really tap into that final physical and mental reserve for the games. Working on changing her mindset around ‘failing’ was also an incredibly important practice that she needed to use in her day to day. “I feel like most athletes, I put a lot of pressure on my own ability to succeed, and I found that any setbacks in my early years impacted my own value and self-worth as an athlete. Redirecting that criticism and self-doubt into practical actions that reaffirmed the work that I had been doing were instrumental in my growth into a mature athlete. This also allowed me to celebrate the wins, no matter how small, and encouraged me to learn from my mistakes” Joany says.

Her snowboarding career is littered with incredible moments. One however that soars above the rest is having the privilege of flying the Australian flag at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Games Opening Ceremony. “The majesty of an opening ceremony, seeing my friends and family in the crowd and feeling the pride of my teammates beaming beside me is a feeling that can never be replaced or replicated” says Joany.

There were many people that were instrumental in her career. Her mum and dad formed the cornerstone of her career as an athlete with unwavering love and support, no matter the who, what, where, and when. “Being a winter athlete takes a village and without my friends and family, my coaching team and conditioning team I wouldn’t have been able to have such incredible success in my sport. In terms of my growth as an athlete, my couch Lucas Prem deserves an award for his perseverance, patience, and his sense of humour. I basically grew up alongside him in my early twenties, and having him as a mentor, a coach, and most importantly as a friend impacted my life inside and outside of the sport, and I could never be more grateful to him. In saying that, my first coach Peter Higgins pulled me out of my hiatus and introduced me to snowboarding, the most incredible and life-changing sport. Without him, I would never in my life have dreamt up what the next 5 years of my life would look like. Love, laughter, highs and lows, and lifelong friendships, all thanks to his phone call”. Joany says.

“We all have sporting role models and I love bragging about mine. Bibian Mentel. Friend, teammate, and my ultimate competition. If you don’t know her, you need to pop her into your google search and let her and her story change your life forever. She was and will always be the Para snowboarding GOAT” says Joany.

Joany is enjoying life after retirement. One particular highlight is her work as a speaker. In sharing her story and my life with people across Australia, she gets to motivate and inspire those around her to live extraordinary lives. “I get to work with incredible not-for-profit organisations like Standtall to help create spaces for students across Australia to feel safe, and supported and help them take the next steps in their own story. That’s what I live for. Not every day is great and not every day is easy, but every day is worth it. My day-to-day is an array of highlights and lowlights and I wouldn’t change it for the world” Joany says.