Losing Our Limbs Saved Our Lives | BORN DIFFERENT

PARALYMPIC power couple Madie and Jordan met at the World Championships in Dubai in 2019. Madie, a long jump specialist competing under the flag of her native Canada, spotted Team Ireland high jumper, Jordan, in a post on Instagram and met him down at the track. Jordan told Truly: "I went over to Dubai to win a medal, but came back with a girlfriend." However, the road that led the two athletes to representing their countries was anything but smooth... 26-year-old Madie developed Meningitis when she was three and was rushed to hospital, where doctors gave her a "less than 2% chance" of survival. To save her life, both of her legs were amputated below the knee, as well as four fingers on her left hand. Madie also lost her hearing in one ear, but pulled through against all the odds, as she told Truly: "It's pretty much a miracle that I'm here today." Jordan, 23, was born without his left forearm due to Amniotic Band Syndrome - the umbilical cord wrapped around his elbow in the womb, cutting off the circulation to the rest of his arm. He remembers realising he was "different from everybody else from a very young age". And as a result of their limb differences, the pair each had hurdles to overcome growing up. Madie was turned away from numerous sports clubs due to her disability and Jordan was called a "monster" by other children, as well as being constantly doubted by people around him. And the couple still face misconceptions to this day, including "holy people" asking whether Jordan's hand will ever grow back. As he bluntly told Truly: "No it's not going to ****ing grow back, it's not a ****ing plant!" The couple have bottled this judgement and used it as motivation to "prove the haters and doubters wrong" as they have embarked on their athletic careers. Jordan holds the title of the first ever one-handed basketball player to represent their country on the international stage, after competing for Ireland in 2015. And now, with a strict training regime in place, the couple have their sights set on Track and Field world domination. As their coach, Tomas, told Truly, disability isn't even a factor any more when it comes to judging their athletic prowess: "Both of them would pride themselves as representing Para sport on a level playing pitch with 'able-bodied' [sport]". With the World Championships returning this year and next year's Paralympics close behind, Madie's "never say can't" tattoo is a constant reminder of everything the couple have been through and what they have the potential to achieve. But regardless of where they place in their events, Madie suggests that they have already won: "I got to meet Jordan through this sport, I wouldn't change it for the world, I absolutely love it."

Follow Madie and Jordan on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/madiewx2
https://www.instagram.com/jordanplee23

Follow Madie on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@madie.wilson.walker

With thanks to:
Nicola Cross, NC Photography
https://www.instagram.com/1ncphotography
https://www.facebook.com/1NCPhotography