Rosalie Fahey

Fahey was born in Adelaide, South Australia.^[2] From as long as she can remember, Fahey loved horses but was not given opportunity to begin riding until the age of 11 when she was given her first horse.^[3] She then went on to join the Pony Club in Adelaide, competing in eventing, dressage and show jumping.^[4] Since the age of twelve Fahey has had serious Crohn's disease but continued to ride until her early 20s, until complications, caused her to be hospitalised for 9 months.^[5] After multiple surgeries she developed a subsequent muscle myopathy which resulted in her being in a wheelchair for a time and for eight years Fahey was forced to give up riding.^[6] Prior to the onset of the muscle myopathy, Fahey had been a professional dancer. During her years of forced retirement from riding, Fahey studied music and teaching at the University of Melbourne. She then went on to become a teacher and professional musician – mastering twelve instruments.^[7] Fahey was inspired, from a very young age, to represent Australia at the Olympic Games^[8] after being told of a relative, John Fahey, who represented Australia in show jumping at the 1964 and 1968 Olympics.^[9] After struggles with significant illness and disability Fahey changed her lifelong directional plans and instead of becoming an Olympian, she says she became "a very proud Australian Paralympian".^[8]