Right: Jamie McDonald is preparing to cap off a magnificent career by winning his 10th straight world title in disabled water skiing.
By Marc McGowan
NARRE Warren disabled water skiing star Jamie McDonald is preparing to wrap up a decade of dominance this year before heading into retirement a satisfied man.
McDonald, 42, is planning to claim a 10th straight title when the world championships head to Townsville in May.
The Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) scholarship holder has enjoyed a stunning career after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage at the age of 22.
He is circumspect about the incident and believes it has given him opportunities he never dreamed possible.
“It has certainly opened up my life a bit, but I’d have much rather have had the Tattslotto win,” McDonald laughed.
The haemorrhage resulted in McDonald being paralysed on the left side of his body, which is known as hemiparesis or hemiplegia.
‘King Jimmy’ competes in the arm and leg category, which has seen him transform from a social water skier into a legend of the sport.
His three disciplines include slalom, tricks and jump, and he holds the world record in the latter.
“My favourite is the jump – just the buzz of going up to a ramp at 58km an hour,” McDonald said.
“It looks like a brick wall when you are coming up, then when you hit it’s like, ‘Woah’!”
McDonald has not always been as non-plussed about his disability, and not surprisingly it took him some time to come to terms with what had happened.
“I don’t think I looked at it as tough. It was more frustrating than anything,” McDonald said.
“The nurses always had to come in my room and tell me off. I tried to get out of bed and walk, and they eventually moved me outside the nurses’ room to keep an eye on me.”
He is now able to walk with a slight limp, but one piece of advice from a nurse may have been the key to the positive outlook he now displays.
“I had realised I wasn’t going to be the same,” he said.
“One of the nurses said to me that although things might keep improving, they also might not.
“Even if they do they never will be 100 per cent. It would never be the same as it was.
“I knew I could still be hopeful, but not too hopeful that I’d be disappointed.
“It was just a matter of getting going and starting to do things again.”
McDonald’s introduction to disabled water skiing came from a friend who had read a magazine article about disabled water skier Steve Davies, who was keen to help others enter the sport.
“It was the initial reason I got off my bum to follow a sport myself,” McDonald said.
“A lot of disabled people are slightly more competitive and wish to do that little better, whereas the average person might give in.”
The most difficult aspect of adapting to the new skill was balance, but in the end it actually helped McDonald outside of water skiing, too.
“Even now the centre of balance is out, but skiing has actually helped with balance a huge amount,” said McDonald, who doubles as a film technician at a motion picture film lab.
“I’ve had a lot of help with nutrition and physio with my scholarship with the VIS.
“I wouldn’t still be going without that.”
It has all led to this – McDonald’s final year in the sport, and with no consideration of lowering the bar he has set for himself throughout his career.
As with many elite sportsmen, McDonald is aware the ‘r’ word may bring hard times, but is confident he will deal with it OK.
“The main thing is I can still go up to Eildon and free slalom, but I’ll have to get used to not being so competitive about it, I suppose,” he said.
“I won’t be doing jumping any more, which is the big buzz, but if I have trouble the VIS has psychologists, although I’m sure I’ll handle it all right.”
