Born: 1942 (Adelaide, Australia)
Biography:
Elizabeth Libby Dudley Kosmala (née Richards), OAM (born 8 July 1942) is an Australian shooter with paraplegia. She is a distinguished athlete who has represented Australia at twelve Paralympics from 1972 to 2016, leaving an indelible mark on the world of para shooting. Throughout her career, Kosmala has earned thirteen medals, with an outstanding nine of them being gold.
Born in Adelaide on 8 July 1942, Kosmala faced early challenges due to her medical condition. She was born with club feet, which required treatment using plasters and bandages to straighten them. Initially, she was diagnosed with spina bifida, but at the age of 50, she discovered that her paraplegia was actually the result of birth-related complications, including a long operation that involved forceps, performed by a cardiologist.
Despite her physical limitations, Kosmala possesses incredible resilience. Paralyzed from the waist down, she has a normal thickness spine until the middle of her back, where it thins out to the size of a pencil before returning to a normal thickness. Fascinatingly, she learned to stand at the age of seven, with her parents encouraging her to walk for 20 to 30 minutes every day until she turned seventeen. Walking was a challenging feat, as Kosmala had to rely on full-length callipers, surgical boots, and two walking sticks. Sadly, physical activities were prohibited during her time at Loreto Convent School.
Kosmala’s strength and determination continued to shine as she pursued a career. She trained as a secretary at the rehabilitation unit of the Royal Adelaide Hospital and secured her first job as a secretary at the Adelaide Botanic Garden when she turned 20. After eleven years, she transferred to the heart and lung investigative unit at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and later worked part-time following the birth of her children. Additionally, she dedicated twelve years of her professional life as a public relations officer for the spina bifida association before retiring.
In the 1970s, Kosmala’s path intertwined with her husband, Stan Kosmala, through wheelchair sports. Stan himself won a gold medal in lawn bowls at the 1988 Seoul Paralympics. The couple has been blessed with two sons and two grandchildren, fostering a loving and supportive family environment.
Beyond her personal accomplishments, Kosmala has made a significant impact on society. She played a crucial role in the introduction of disabled parking permits in South Australia. Frustrated with accumulating parking fines for exceeding the allotted time in a fifteen-minute parking area, she challenged the City of Adelaide in court, leading to a favorable outcome. Although she was asked to pay her court costs, an anonymous donor generously covered the expenses.
Furthermore, Kosmala’s dedication to helping others with disabilities inspired her involvement with Technical Aid to the Disabled South Australia (TADSA). In 2013, she became its inaugural patron. TADSA is a charity that focuses on designing, building, and modifying devices to aid individuals with disabilities when no other solutions are readily available. This involvement stems from her own experience as a client of TADSA in the late 1970s.
Elizabeth Libby Kosmala’s determination, resilience, and impact on society serve as an inspiration to people worldwide. Her incredible achievements in para shooting and her contributions to creating a more inclusive and accessible world continue to leave a lasting legacy.
Awards:
– Multiple gold medals at the Paralympic Games
– Order of Australia Medal (OAM)
– Recipient of the President’s Medal for Excellence in Sportsmanship at the Australian Paralympian of the Year ceremony