A former Army officer from Salisbury who chose to have her leg amputated has had her bid for Paralympic gold boosted after being presented with a new custom-built sports wheelchair.
Professional wheelchair tennis player Cornelia Oosthuizen was presented with the RGK Grand Slam X at the UK premiere of Tomorrow, a Martin Scorsese film, at the British Museum on Thursday, October 17.
The wheelchair was supplied by The OppO Foundation, which aims to help five or more ex-servicepeople who have suffered an injury and wish to compete in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo or Invictus.
Cornelia, 40, who was medically discharged from the Army in 2016 after ten years of service having been promoted to Major, said the presentation was a complete surprise and extended her thanks to The OppO Foundation and Britvic.
“This is a top of the range sports wheelchair especially designed for tennis and it’s a massive privilege to be gifted this. It will also be a massive help for my 2020 bid,” she said.
“As a veteran the support from the OppO Foundation is invaluable in helping with the transition from military to civilian life, but also the other way around – it can help civilians understand more about the issues affecting ex-servicepeople.”
OppO is a charity started by former RAF serviceman and hunter on Celebrity Hunted Kayam Iqbal, which helps ex-military personnel, their families and dependents on their return to civilian life.
Cornelia injured her foot while playing tennis for the Army, which led to a diagnosis of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. After five years of chronic pain she decided to have her lower right leg amputated, despite some doctors recommending against it.
She took up wheelchair tennis and in 2017 she trialled for the Invictus Games where her and her doubles partner won bronze, and gold in the ladies’ golf competition.
“I would encourage any guys or girls with disabilities, not just those that are congenital but who have perhaps had an accident, to give themselves the opportunity to re-engage with life and sport is a wonderful way to do this,” Cornelia said.
Cornelia, who is an advocate of Team OppO, was selected for the Paralympic Inspiration Program before she started competing in 2018.
She now spends much of her time training at the National Tennis Centre in London.
Pictured above: Cornelia Oosthuizen with Kayam Iqbal, OppO Foundation founder.