There are plenty of records still to be broken in sports. As training and nutrition science gets more precise, significant money is spent in these areas. People believe more than ever that the impossible is possible, we are seeing sporting greatness almost daily.

One place where we still have a long way to go though is women's sport, due to the perception of women's ability in sport. The boundaries that say women are not as strong, not as powerful, not as fast still stand - even though women athletes have proven time and time again that they are in fact worthy of going toe-to-toe with any competitor, label-free.

Women supposedly can't do this or that, yet in NZ, the first Olympic team sent to the summer Olympics was made up of three men, and one woman - a teenage swimmer named Violet Walrond.

What about this young role model, the Italian Luigina Giavotti who went to the summer Olympics in 1928 at  the age of 11. She won a silver medal in gymnastics and was labeled the youngest women Olympian.

You can also look at Dame Sophie Pascoe, a Paralympian. Sophie lost her leg at the age of two after her father ran it over with a lawn mower. The standard-bearer for Para sport in New Zealand, Dame Sophie Pascoe is a national treasure. She is an eleven-time Paralympic gold medallist and multiple World champion. At the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, Sophie won four medals – taking her total tally to 19 Paralympic medals. This has now made Sophie the most decorated and successful New Zealand Paralympian ever!

Even though Sophie Pascoe lost her leg, she never let her disability hold her back. Sophie’s mum enrolled her in swimming lessons, as she didn't show the same ability in the pool as she did in other sports. In 2000, Sophie had her first win at her school’s annual swimming sports competition. This was when Sophie realised that her talent in the pool could be bigger than her disability.

One way to break boundaries is to say to yourself that you can do it. Don't put roadblocks in the way. If you believe you can't do it, then you won't be able to do it. Instead, think positive!

Written by Addison Welch (Year 9).