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The Conversation

Factual: Life Stories

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from different parts of the world, united by a common passion, experience or expertise, share the stories of their lives.

The Conversation: Paralympians: Elizabeth Stone and Vanessa Low

Elizabeth Stone and Vanessa Low

22/06/2015

Paralympians: Elizabeth Stone and Vanessa Low

BBC World Service - The Conversation, Paralympians: Elizabeth Stone and Vanessa Low

Paralympians from Germany and Georgia share the personal stories behind their success

"What's wrong with you?" Young Paralympians from Georgia and Germany share experiences of awkward encounters, body acceptance, prosthetic legs and winning on the world's stage.

Elizabeth Stone has swum for Team USA in three Paralympic Games and has won three medals. Her achievements are all the more surprising because she started life in a Georgian orphanage. Elizabeth got her first prosthetic at 4 years old and not wearing it in the water is part of the reason she loves her sport.  Her sporting fame led to an emotional reunion with her birth family in Georgia. Elizabeth is now considering whether to take up the triathlon. 

Vanessa Low joins us fresh from setting a new world record. The German long-jump star lost her legs as a teenager after being hit by a train. It took almost 3 years for her to walk confidently on her prosthetic legs and she talks about her disappointment in the way they looked and felt. Now Vanessa is training hard for the 2016 Paralympics in Rio but points out that without adequate funding she can barely afford to pay for her running legs. 

Presenter: Kim Chakanetsa

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