Eva Marion "Eve" Rimmer née DaviesBEM (3 April 1937 – 23 November 1996)[1] was a New Zealand Paralympic athlete.[2] She was born in Whanganui, New Zealand and became one of New Zealand's greatest paraplegic athletes, winning 32 medals – including 22 gold medals – for athletics and swimming at international sporting events.[2] Growing up in the small rural town of Edgecumbe, Eve was a talented young athlete. As Eve says in her biography "On natural ability alone, I held the school's long jump record for many years".[3] This made up for her poor academic credentials. As soon as she was old enough she left school. In 1952 at age fifteen, Eve was left paralysed from the waist down when the vehicle she was in crashed on a dark wet night. This life changing experience did not prevent Eve Rimmer from becoming one of the best athletes in the world. She went on to be a multi-medal winner in shot put, javelin, pentathlon, discus, swimming and archery, In 1973 she received the British Empire Medal.[2]
The same spirit was shown in her personal life. She married Kelvin Stanley (Kel) Rimmer, a radio engineer, and despite being told she would probably never be able to conceive, gave birth to two healthy girls.[2] Eve Rimmer has since been regarded as an inspiration to those with disabilities and able-bodied people. She was actively involved with the paraplegic organisations throughout New Zealand.[4] She gave many paraplegics throughout the world the ability to believe that they could achieve anything they wanted to.
It is understanding that people with disabilities want, not sympathy.
People who have disabilities are normal people who can play a normalpart in life. If I have got this message across to just some people, I
have contributed something
— Eve discussing how she wanted her speaking engagements to impact others
Eve the world's leading paraplegic field events athlete in action at Stoke Mandeville – the shot, the javelin, the discus.Two golds and a bronze at the home of para sport. The medal presentation at the Stoke Mandeville international para games in 1972.
Eve Rimmer was the first woman selected to represent New Zealand at the Paralympics.[2] She was the only female named along with fourteen men to go to the 1968 Tel Aviv Games and the only one to bring home medals. She continued to represent New Zealand at the games in Heidelberg (1972), Toronto (1976) and Arnhem (1980), winning a total of 14 Paralympic medals, of which 8 were gold. Eve was also very successful in the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games and at domestic competitions.[5]
Achievementsedit
As well as winning many Paralympic and Commonwealth medals, Eve Rimmer has been honoured for her many achievements including being named the Bay of Plenty Sportsperson of the Year in 1992. She was the founder of the Disabilities Resource Centre in Whakatane and was the organiser of the 1990 Games for Disabled in Whakatane, an event which has grown into the Eve Rimmer Games held Easter weekend every two years.[6][7] In 1990, Eve was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame due to her domination in paraplegic sport over the years.[8] Rimmer was also runner up for the New Zealand Sportsman of the year title in 1972. In the 1973 New Year Honours, Rimmer was awarded the British Empire Medal, for services to paraplegics.[9] Eve was a very big influence on sports in Whakatane and the Council honoured her by naming a sports ground after her. The Eve Rimmer Park is used for rugby league, netball and bmx.[10]
I would swap them all, everything I've had out of life, for two ordinary legs that work.
To get up and dance again.To run down the beach and plunge into the sea.To ride a bike through the countryside.To walk free with the wind in my face.
To feel the grass between my toes.
— Eve discussing the fact that although she has had great achievements she regrets the things that normal people can do
Referencesedit
^Gilmour, Garth (1 December 1996). "Eve Rimmer fought for a better life – and won". Sunday Star Times. p. 11.
^ abcdeBurgess, Sarah (2018). "Rimmer, Eva Marion". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography - Te Ara. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
^Rimmer, Eve (with Garth Gilmour) (1978). No grass between my toes: the Eve Rimmer story. Wellington: A. H. & A. W. Reed. ISBN9780589010904.
^Anderton, Jim (1999). Unsung heroes portraits of inspiring New Zealanders. Auckland: Random House. ISBN9781869414016.
^Paralympics New Zealand (2008). "Profiles". Retrieved 20 March 2008.
^Sport Waikato (2008). "". Retrieved 20 March 2008.
^Sport Bay of Plenty (2008). "Event detail". Retrieved 20 March 2008. [permanent dead link]
^New Zealand Hall of Fame (2008). "". Retrieved 20 March 2008.
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Eva Marion Eve Rimmer nee Davies BEM 3 April 1937 23 November 1996 1 was a New Zealand Paralympic athlete 2 She was born in Whanganui New Zealand and became one of New Zealand s greatest paraplegic athletes winning 32 medals including 22 gold medals for athletics and swimming at international sporting events 2 Growing up in the small rural town of Edgecumbe Eve was a talented young athlete As Eve says in her biography On natural ability alone I held the school s long jump record for many years 3 This made up for her poor academic credentials As soon as she was old enough she left school In 1952 at age fifteen Eve was left paralysed from the waist down when the vehicle she was in crashed on a dark wet night This life changing experience did not prevent Eve Rimmer from becoming one of the best athletes in the world She went on to be a multi medal winner in shot put javelin pentathlon discus swimming and archery In 1973 she received the British Empire Medal 2 Eve RimmerPersonal informationBirth nameEva Marion DaviesFull nameEva Marion RimmerBorn3 April 1937 1937 04 03 Whanganui New ZealandDied23 November 1996 1996 11 24 aged 59 Medal record Representing New ZealandParalympic GamesWomen s para athletics1968 Tel Aviv Javelin throw C1968 Tel Aviv Shot put C1968 Tel Aviv Discus throw C1972 Heidelberg Pentathlon 31972 Heidelberg Shot put 31972 Heidelberg Discus throw 31972 Heidelberg Javelin 31976 Toronto Pentathlon 31976 Toronto Discus throw 31976 Toronto Javelin 31976 Toronto Shot put 31980 Arnhem Shot put 3Women s para swimming1968 Tel Aviv 50 m freestyle class 4 completeWomen s para archery1980 Arnhem Advanced metric round paraplegicThe same spirit was shown in her personal life She married Kelvin Stanley Kel Rimmer a radio engineer and despite being told she would probably never be able to conceive gave birth to two healthy girls 2 Eve Rimmer has since been regarded as an inspiration to those with disabilities and able bodied people She was actively involved with the paraplegic organisations throughout New Zealand 4 She gave many paraplegics throughout the world the ability to believe that they could achieve anything they wanted to It is understanding that people with disabilities want not sympathy People who have disabilities are normal people who can play a normal part in life If I have got this message across to just some people I have contributed something Eve discussing how she wanted her speaking engagements to impact others Contents 1 Representations 2 Achievements 3 References 4 External linksRepresentations edit nbsp Eve the world s leading paraplegic field events athlete in action at Stoke Mandeville the shot the javelin the discus nbsp Two golds and a bronze at the home of para sport The medal presentation at the Stoke Mandeville international para games in 1972 Eve Rimmer was the first woman selected to represent New Zealand at the Paralympics 2 She was the only female named along with fourteen men to go to the 1968 Tel Aviv Games and the only one to bring home medals She continued to represent New Zealand at the games in Heidelberg 1972 Toronto 1976 and Arnhem 1980 winning a total of 14 Paralympic medals of which 8 were gold Eve was also very successful in the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games and at domestic competitions 5 Achievements editAs well as winning many Paralympic and Commonwealth medals Eve Rimmer has been honoured for her many achievements including being named the Bay of Plenty Sportsperson of the Year in 1992 She was the founder of the Disabilities Resource Centre in Whakatane and was the organiser of the 1990 Games for Disabled in Whakatane an event which has grown into the Eve Rimmer Games held Easter weekend every two years 6 7 In 1990 Eve was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame due to her domination in paraplegic sport over the years 8 Rimmer was also runner up for the New Zealand Sportsman of the year title in 1972 In the 1973 New Year Honours Rimmer was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to paraplegics 9 Eve was a very big influence on sports in Whakatane and the Council honoured her by naming a sports ground after her The Eve Rimmer Park is used for rugby league netball and bmx 10 I would swap them all everything I ve had out of life for two ordinary legs that work To get up and dance again To run down the beach and plunge into the sea To ride a bike through the countryside To walk free with the wind in my face To feel the grass between my toes Eve discussing the fact that although she has had great achievements she regrets the things that normal people can doReferences edit Gilmour Garth 1 December 1996 Eve Rimmer fought for a better life and won Sunday Star Times p 11 a b c d e Burgess Sarah 2018 Rimmer Eva Marion Dictionary of New Zealand Biography Te Ara Retrieved 28 November 2018 Rimmer Eve with Garth Gilmour 1978 No grass between my toes the Eve Rimmer story Wellington A H amp A W Reed ISBN 9780589010904 Anderton Jim 1999 Unsung heroes portraits of inspiring New Zealanders Auckland Random House ISBN 9781869414016 Paralympics New Zealand 2008 Profiles Retrieved 20 March 2008 Sport Waikato 2008 Sport Opportunity Retrieved 20 March 2008 Sport Bay of Plenty 2008 Event detail Retrieved 20 March 2008 permanent dead link New Zealand Hall of Fame 2008 Eve Rimmer Retrieved 20 March 2008 No 45861 The London Gazette 2nd supplement 1 January 1973 Whakatane 2008 Facilities locations Archived 9 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 20 March 2008 Disability Resource Centre Trust 2008 Eve Rimmer Retrieved 20 March 2008 External links editEve M Rimmer at the International Paralympic Committee nbsp Eve Rimmer at Paralympics New Zealand nbsp Eve Rimmer at the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Eve Rimmer amp oldid 1171798399, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
