Kim Pham
5 September 2016: Some people refuse to take no for an answer despite facing numerous obstacles and Paralympic rower and University of Canberra nursing student Kathryn Ross is one of them.
Ross was told she wouldn't be able to row at an elite level because of the joint fusion between her right knee and ankle. In Rio, she will begin her third Paralympics campaign in the mixed double sculls with partner Gavin Bellis.
Ross is also keeping her dream of becoming a nurse alive, despite being told her career choice would be too painful to endure, as she'd be expected to be on her feet for long periods of time. She is currently in the second year of her Bachelor of Nursing degree.
-
Nursing student and rower Kathryn Ross is hoping to win gold in her third Paralympics campaign. Photo: Kim Pham.
It's fair to say that given a challenge, Ross will rise to the occasion. She missed out on a gold medal in Beijing by 0.08 of a second, came fifth at the 2012 London Paralympics and will be chasing that elusive gold medal in Rio.
"It's going to be an absolute monster of a race, it's going to be so tight," Ross said.
"The top six countries are just hundredths of a second off each other, so it is literally go hard or go home."
Ross and Bellis train six days a week which includes five early morning rowing sessions, four weights sessions and cross training. While Bellis is the "big engine" of the boat, Ross is in charge of the team's strategy dictating the pace and speed during the race.
It's been a busy period for Ross in the lead up to the Paralympics as she juggles part-time work at the Australian Sports Commission, training, studying nursing and a certificate in personal training.
"I always wanted to become a nurse. Being in and out of hospital since my accident (Ross's leg was disfigured after a lawn mower accident when she was two-years-old), I felt I wanted to give back some of the goodness that was given to me over the years," she said.
"A number of people said I wouldn't be able to do nursing, that it wasn't possible. It was a little bit of a dream that was shattered, so I put it to the side…but it always niggled at the back of my mind. While I was rowing, I got to thinking that people said I couldn't do this but I proved them wrong."
Ross moved from her hometown of Warrnambool to Canberra after being offered a spot at the Australian Institute of Sport.
She looked into pursuing a nursing degree and decided to study at the University of Canberra because of the flexibility around her other commitments.
"On the advice and support at the University of Canberra I am almost finished my nursing degree, I absolutely love it and can't wait to get back into the community and see what I can do," she said.
"When I was on placement, no one questioned whether I could do it or not. They never looked at me any differently.
"It just showed me anything is possible. It has spurred me on in the field of nursing. I'm really looking forward to seeing where it takes me."
It's been a decade since Ross first took up para-rowing. She recalls watching the Athens Paralympics and admiring the athletes, just two years later she was in training herself.
"I don't love the cold mornings I have to admit but rowing, very early on, gave me the sense and feeling of running. Due to my accident when I was young I've never been able to run," she said.
"It's always been something that I strive to do and I envy people who can. When I'm on the water I have that speed and feeling of wind in my hair and movement. That's what rowing gave me and what keeps me going."
The Rio Paralympics start on 7 September.
Read about some of our Paralympic Games' representatives as well as our Olympians:
Matthew dives into Rio competition
Reardon ready to bring home gold
Gracie gears up for Olympic debut
Roberts returns for second Olympics
