Waiuku College student Charli Gardiner-Hall is heading off to Perth as part of a three-person tour representing New Zealand.
The 17-year-old has qualified to compete in all three of her chosen events at the 2025 Australian Age Group Championships Tour. She will be competing in the U20 women’s sections for para shot put, para discus, and para javelin and has also been accepted into the three senior open women’s para events.
“These senior events are a big challenge as all the athletes are a lot older and more experienced than Charli. But she is keen to gain the valuable learnings that will come from it,” Mum Kylie Hall said.
Charli had been competing in athletics since she was about 7 years old.
“She took a few years out because her disability meant that she couldn’t go as fast, jump or throw far like other kids and she was always coming last. This was before her physical disability was brought to our attention. Until then, our focus had been on trying to manage the seizures that come with her condition.
“It was pretty tough for her. But once we understood her physical disability and she entered the para-sport world, her life took a massive positive change.”
Charli was born with an extremely rare congenital brain condition called Sturge-Weber Type 3. There are extra blood vessels and calcification on the left-hand side of her brain which take up space where the brain should evolve.
This affects Charli’s motor skills, her balance, and causes weakness down her right side, which means she can’t power up like most people, Kylie said.
“The condition also causes major seizures which are a huge challenge. One of her recent seizures happened in the sea and she had to be hospitalised for nearly drowning. The way Charli bounces back continually from adversity continues to amaze us.”
In December Charli competed at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Athletics Association Champs. The competition had a rough start for the Waiuku College student with the flight to Timaru cancelled at the last minute on the night before.
Kylie said they made it to Wellington and had to stay in a hotel overnight before getting up at 4.30am the next morning.
“We made it to Christchurch, then had a three-hour minivan trip and then had to jump in the circle and compete. Not quite the prep she wanted, but she handled it well and snatched the New Zealand Secondary Schools Athletics Senior Para Girls Discus record!”
Last year Charli was named Counties Manukau Sports Junior Sportswoman of the Year for the second year running.
Charli told the Franklin Times she was really excited and proud to have the chance to represent New Zealand in Perth.
“I have been learning some new techniques because me and my coach John are always trying new things to see what will work best for my body and my disability. So, a big focus is on getting the right technique for my body, so I can get across the circle faster and use that momentum to throw further.”
Despite the early mornings and extra work involved on top of studying for NCEA Level 3, Charli loves athletics.
“I love the chance to meet new people at different competitions. I really like how competitive it is. I got that competitive spirit from growing up with my brother Quinn. I like to see if I can be the best.”
With such a full workload, there isn’t much time for fundraising, Charli said.
With my training schedule and school, there isn’t really any time to carry out fundraising or to get a job.
“And I have to be a bit careful about getting too tired as that can trigger seizures. But I have been very fortunate to receive some grants and scholarships towards my travel and training costs which is really helpful. And Mum and Dad really help out a lot with all of my costs.
“But if there is a rich person out there who wants to help support me, that would be so awesome,” she laughed.
In the meantime, Charli has two Auckland competitions then another major competition in March where she will compete at the New Zealand Track and Field Championships in Dunedin. Following that she has the College Sport Auckland Athletics Champs, then another Auckland comp before she takes off to Perth to take on the Aussies at the Australian Track and Field Championships.
