Anna Steven (born 31 August 2000) is a para-athlete from New Zealand.[1] She is representing New Zealand at the 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, Japan.[2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 August 2000 Auckland, New Zealand |
| Sport | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sport | Para athletics |
Biography edit
Steven was born in Auckland in 2000.[3] She was educated at Westlake Girls High School on the city's North Shore.[4] As of 2020, she is a student at the University of Auckland, studying biomedical science.[5]
When she was 13 years old, Steven had chemotherapy and surgery to treat osteosarcoma, a type of bone cancer. As a result her lower right leg was amputated.[1] In 2016 she watched Liam Malone compete for New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Paralympics and also met him at a "welcome home" event. She decided to take up athletics and quickly excelled in short sprint distances.[2]
Six months after her first domestic athletics competition, Steven was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2017 World Junior Para Athletics Championships. She competed in the 100 metre and 200 metre events.[2] From 2016 to 2018 Stevens suffered from compartment syndrome in her lower left leg. In August 2018 she underwent a fasciotomy to correct the problem.[1]
In Dubai at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships, Steven set a new Oceania area record in the Women’s 100m T64, placing 5th in her heat, and placed 7th in the Women’s 200m T64 final.[2]
At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, Steven competed in the 100 metres and 200 metres T64. In the 200 metres, she qualified for the final and finished in eighth place. In the 100 metres, she was disqualified in the heats after making a false start.[6]
Awards and recognition edit
In 2020 Steven received a Blues Award in Sports from the University of Auckland.[5]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Anna Steven". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Para athlete Anna Steven selected to the New Zealand Paralympic Team for Tokyo 2020". Athletics New Zealand. 3 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Anna Steven". Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ Reid, Felicity (9 June 2017). "Kiwi sprinter qualifies for first World Junior Para Athletics Championships". Stuff. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
- ^ a b "2020 Blues Awards Winners - The University of Auckland". www.auckland.ac.nz. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
- ^ "Tokyo Paralympics: Blade runner Anna Steven disqualified after false start". Stuff. 2 September 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.