The Firey Enabler with Petra Williams - Episode 5

Susan has background in swimming and equestrian. She proudly represented Australia at the Rio Paralympics, and won a Bronze medal in Para-canoe. She is also a two-time World Champion in individual outrigger canoe. 

Born with Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenita, a rare disorder with the fusion of joints and absent muscle formation in her legs. 

Susan learnt to swim at the age of four as a form of physiotherapy and excelled at the sport. Susan held six Queensland State records between the ages of 13 and 15, and three Australian National age records in freestyle and backstroke. 

While swimming fuelled her competitive spirit, Susan’s real sporting passion was competing in dressage. After learning to ride a horse at the age of seven, she set herself a goal of becoming a Paralympic champion. In 2006, she made her international debut in the sport at the Pacific Rim Para-Equestrian Dressage International Competition in Canada, where she won bronze.

Facing the financial strains of competing in Para-equestrian, Susan found herself looking for another sport. In 2012, Susan attended a Come and Try Kayaking Day and was inspired to take up Para-canoe and keep her Paralympic dream alive!

Susan challenged herself to paddle both boats used in Para-canoe; the outrigger canoe and the kayak. At the 2015 World Championships in Italy where she won Bronze in the 200m kayak race and Gold in the 200m outrigger canoe race. She successful defended her outrigger canoe Wold Champion title the following year at the 2016 World Championships in Germany. And won another Bronze medal in the kayak event for Australia. 

Susan proudly represented Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics Games with a Bronze and was the first Australian in history to win a medal in Para-canoe at the Paralympic.