Holly Robinson (athlete)
New Zealand para-athlete (born 1994)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Holly Irene Robinson MNZM (born 10 December 1994) is a New Zealand para-athlete, primarily competing in the javelin throw. She represented New Zealand at the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Summer Paralympics, winning silver in 2016 and gold in 2020.[1][2] At the 2016 Games, she was New Zealand's flagbearer for the opening ceremony.[3][4]
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Robinson in 2022 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Holly Irene Robinson |
| Born | 10 December 1994 Hokitika, New Zealand |
| Home town | Dunedin, New Zealand |
| Sport | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Disability class | F46 |
Event | Javelin throw |
| Club | Athletics Taieri |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Personal best | 45.73 m (2021) |
Medal record | |
Early life
Robinson was born in Hokitika, on the South Island's West Coast, and is of Ngāi Tahu descent.[5] She has a twin brother, Jonathon, and her father Steve represented the West Coast in Heartland Championship rugby. Robinson has a congenital limb reduction with her left arm ending below the elbow.[6] She attended Westland High School and later Taieri College after moving to Dunedin.[6][7]
Sporting career
Robinson started competing in para-athletics at age 12. She is classified F46 for field events and T47 for track events and long jump.[8] Robinson's first major international competition was the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand, achieving a fifth-place ranking in the women's javelin throw F46 and a seventh-place ranking in the women's shot put F42–44/46. She was selected to represent New Zealand at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, the sole female athletics competitor selected. She finished seventh in the women's javelin F46, with a 32.58 m throw.[9] Robinson won her first international competition medal at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships, earning a silver medal with a 34.37 m throw.
At the 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships, Robinson earned a bronze medal with a 38.18 m throw.[10] At the 2016 Australian Athletics Championships she set a New Zealand national record with a throw of 40.81 m, ranking her number one in the world for the javelin F46 during the Paralympic qualifying period and earning her a slot at the 2016 Paralympics Games. She was officially confirmed to represent New Zealand at the Paralympics on 23 May 2016.[2]
At the 2016 Summer Paralympics, Robinson won the silver medal in the women's javelin throw F46, with a personal best throw of 41.22 m.[4][11] At the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Robinson won the silver medal in the women's javelin throw with a personal best throw of 43.32m.[12]
In September 2021 Robinson donated a US$50,000 prize to Ronald McDonald House South Island.[13][14]
In the 2022 Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours, Robinson was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to athletics.[15]
Statistics
Personal bests
Javelin throw progression
| Year | Performance | Competition | Location | Date | World ranking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 30.61 m | Melbourne, Australia | 16 April | 7 | |
| 2012 | 32.58 m | Summer Paralympics | London, United Kingdom | 1 September | 7 |
| 2013 | 34.37 m | IPC Athletics World Championships | Lyon, France | 22 July | 3 |
| 2014 | 35.58 m | Beijing, China | 16 April | 2 | |
| 2015 | 38.18 m | IPC Athletics World Championships | Doha, Qatar | 31 October | 4 |
| 2016 | 41.22 m | Summer Paralympics | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 13 September | 2 |
| 2017 | 42.68 m | Otago Championships | Dunedin, New Zealand | 26 February | |
| 2018 | 43.32 m | Commonwealth Games | Gold Coast, Australia | 8 April | |
| 2019 | 45.73 m | Australian Championships | Sydney, Australia | 6 April | |
| 2020 | 40.64 m | Dunedin, New Zealand | 25 January | ||
| 2021 | 44.26 m | New Zealand Championships | Hastings, New Zealand | 27 March |