Legendary Para Athlete, Cameron Leslie - World Record Holder & 3 Time Paralympic Gold Medallist

Cam Leslie is one of New Zealand’s most successful athletes. He’s won gold medals at three Paralympics in swimming, is a world record-holder, a Halberg award winner and the co-captain of the NZ Wheelblacks. He’s also a father of three kids under five, runs a farm, has a full time job at Swimming NZ and has an inspirational outlook on life – though he won’t like us using that word! Cam was born a quadruple amputee with legs to the knee on both sides, his arm is missing four fingers on the right and he has half a forearm on his left side. But it hasn’t slown him down. In this episode we talk about the realities of his disability and what he can and can’t do, the best stories from touring with the Wheelblacks, how his ‘why’ has changed since having kids, why he withdrew from the Tokyo Paralympics, how he’s stayed at the top for so long and his experience of Kiwi attitudes towards disability. Paralympics New Zealand is looking to challenge perceptions around disability with their Paris 2024 campaign ‘we’ll give you something to talk about’ and this episode certainly does that. Cam is brilliant company – funny, thoughtful and engaging and universally loved by his peers. He’s a legend – with a huge future ahead of him. You’ll love this one. This episode is brought to you by TAB, download the new app today and get your bet on! Listen on iheart or wherever you get your podcasts from, or watch the video on Youtube. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.