HORSBURGH Meica Jayne

Classification
B3 (IBSA, 01 Aug 2020)

Type of Impairment
Vision impairment (paralympic.org.au, 31 Aug 2016)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (london2012.paralympic.org.au, 01 Jan 2012)

Impairment Details
She has oculocutaneous albinism. "So, I have ocular albinism, so for the general public I'm known as an albino. I'm pretty lucky as I have pretty good vision but when you break it down, it's only 10% of what a normal person would see. On an eye chart it is the top letter. An ordinary person would see at 60 metres, I can only see at six. I think goalball has helped me to be more confident with my impairment, not letting anything get in my way. I feel OK to talk about it now [speaking in 2020] as I know that my vision does not define me." (abc.net.au, 11 Dec 2020; paralympic.org, 25 Sep 2020, 05 Aug 2020; london2012.paralympic.org.au, 01 Jan 2012)

General
TURNING POINT
She endured bullying while growing up until she had suicidal thoughts at age 13. She says goalball saved her and two years later she debuted for Australia. "I don't reckon I'd be alive [if it was not for goalball]. Maybe suicide, maybe getting mixed up with the wrong crowd. I definitely wouldn't be where I am today [speaking in 2020]. I went to a school with a special education unit, so that already made me stand out a little bit, but then [I'd] stand out a little bit more because I do look different to normal people. [There was] bullying on a daily or weekly basis. Growing up, high school is hard for everybody, but I feel I had it a little bit harder. It did affect me to the point where I did try to commit suicide because I hated my life so much, I hated being so different. I would get in a lot of trouble. So I didn't really respect my teachers, I was a bit naughty in that sense. I got into a few fights and dabbled in alcohol and smoking at a young age. So I got into goalball more competitively just as the bullying was really bad. And playing a sport where I knew I fit in made me realise that everyone has their own place in the world, and it just took me a little while to see it. I just found that and I knew that's what I wanted and I had to be a better person. [I thought] I don't care what people say about me because I know I can do great things. And playing goalball and knowing I could represent my country, that just turned me around." (abc.net.au, 11 Dec 2020; paralympic.org, 25 Sep 2020)

RIO EXPERIENCE
Australia's women's goalball team was initially not selected to compete at the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, only receiving the call-up when the Russian Federation's team was banned due to doping offences. The Australian team then did not make it through the group stage. "Honestly, 2016 was the biggest roller-coaster of my life. To get the late call to attend Rio was amazing but also disappointing. I hadn't played goalball in five months and felt very under prepared. I believe we did the best with what we had but if we had more time to train and prepare, we would have been a real threat." (paralympic.org, 05 Aug 2020)

RETIREMENT PLAN
She plans to retire after playing at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo and then start a family. "I started playing when we had absolutely no funding. So my first tournament, I was only 15 and it cost my parents probably $10,000. But to represent your country, put on the green and gold, not many people get that opportunity. And to play with heart, rather than play with money, I don't think you can beat it. [The 2020 Games] will be my last Paralympics. Knowing it's your last you need to give 110%. Getting on the podium would be amazing but just to beat our position from the last two Paralympics would be amazing too." (abc.net.au, 11 Dec 2020; paralympic.org, 25 Sep2020, 05 Aug 2020)

TEAM CAPTAIN
She was Australia's women's goalball team captain at the Paralympic Games in 2012 and 2016. "To be captain, it's so hard to put it into words. We all have a role to play and I try to lead by example, in training and just try and be a positive influence on the girls. I just need them to know I'm there when they need me, and I try to be there when the coaches can't be. I think a lot of people find me intimidating. Some of the girls get intimidated by me because I have played for so long! I try not to show too much emotion on court and if I do, it's probably the 'let's get out there and get it done', angry sort of emotion." (paralympic.org, 25 Sep 2020)

GOALBALL COUPLE
She is married to Australian goalball player Jon Horsburgh. "We sometimes train together, which is nice as we appreciate each other's talents and we can push and support each other. It's so good to have someone to talk to who understands the struggles with playing at a high level. But of course, being athletes, there's always a bit of rivalry and we always try to