FORMER Northern Hospital nurse Natalie Smith returns home this week after being the first Australian to win a medal at the London Paralympics.
Ms Smith, in her first Paralympics, won bronze in the women’s 10-metre air rifle, behind Germany and China, at the Royal Artillery Barracks.
The 37-year-old, who now lives in Hidden Valley outside Wallan, said the win was “very surreal” and she kept thinking her medal “is going to disappear”. She was surprised to win bronze ahead of a Korean shooter. “I thought I’d dropped down so far, I just had to hope and pray,” she said. “I thought I’d lost it the shot before, so to actually see my name up there was absolutely amazing”.
Smith became paraplegic in a hiking accident three years ago and began shooting in 2010, progressing rapidly.
Her mother Juanita Lutz said the medal was a tribute to both her grandfathers. Norm Lutz had been ready to represent Australia as a shooter in the 1956 Olympics when he had a heart attack and had to withdraw, while her other grandfather, John Edwards, taught shooting at the Royal Artillery Barracks in the 1940s.
“We’re all so proud of her; she wanted to make it on to the podium, no matter what,” Mrs Lutz said.
