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10-year-old Aussie completes triathlon despite doctors saying she'd never walk

10-year-old Aussie completes triathlon despite doctors saying she'd never walk

Hallee McCoombes has got all the qualities of a future Paralympic champion.

Hallee McCoombes, you are a hero.

Despite being told by doctors that she'd never walk, the 10-year-old has defied the odds and completed a triathlon.

That's a half-mile (750 metres) swim 12.4 miles (20K) bike ride and a 3.1 miles (5 kilometre) run.

Hallee has spina bifida, which is birth defect that occurs when the spine doesn't form properly, meaning medical professionals informed Hallee's mother Christine that her daughter possibly wouldn't walk.

But boy, didn't she prove everyone wrong.

Now young Hallee is the Australian champion and a Paralympics debut in just six year's time is firmly in her sights.

When reminded that she'll perhaps never play sport or even run again, Hallee simply says: "When they say that I don’t listen to them."

Hallee's birth defect means she has no feeling in her waist or below her knees, she only gets vibrations through her body.

For most, we wouldn't even think to stroll around the block let along complete a triathlon while living with a disease of this sort.

But Hallee has proved she's built different and has the mindset of a future Paralympic champion in the making.

"Her brain is affected, her co-ordination is affected, and obviously she's got lots of muscles and nerves that are damaged," Christine told Seven.

"People are starting to see that she is capable of doing anything and everything."

Incredibly, when Hallee swims she can’t kick her legs to move through the water either, so it's all upper body strength generating her speed.

And when she gets tired on her front, she transitions to her back.

What a truly inspirational athlete.

When Hallee turns 16 in 2028, the Paralympic Games will arrive in Los Angeles and you can bet your bottom dollar that this little legend will be lining up in the green and gold of Australia.

Featured Image Credit: Twitter/7NewsBrisbane

Topics: Australia, Athletics