(2017 ☆ ARCHIVED) Maya-Ray Cross - Great Britain

MAYA-RAY CROSS (Great Britain) - Nominee for the 2017 Junior of the Year Award

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Sixteen-year-old Maya-Ray Cross will represent the Great Britain at the 2017 Freestyle World Championships in San Juan, Argentina this December. The junior paddler, who started the discipline one year ago, has already accomplished a major goal of hers despite suffering from a disability.

Maya-Ray, better known as Mayo, has a genetic condition called Ehlers Danlos Syndrom (EDS). This condition causes hypermobility in her tendons and ligaments, making her more prone to sprains, dislocations and subluxations of joints. In addition to this, the freestyle athlete was also diagnosed with Scheuermann's disease, a condition that affects the vertebrae and causes severe back pain. In 2012, Mayo underwent a surgical procedure to de-tether her spinal cord. Unfortunately, the surgery didn’t prove beneficial and the pain and numbness in her back and legs persist today. As there is no known cure for EDS, Mayo has turned to freestyle as a form of physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around her joints.

Although the constant pain has had a frustrating impact on her progression in the sport, Mayo’s burning passion for freestyle enables her to take her mind off what is happening in her body. Throughout the year, the Freestyle community in Nottingham, England, has provided the young paddler with endless support, encouraging her to learn new moves and carry on competing.

Off the water, Mayo is a great ambassador for the sport and a moral exemplar for young disabled athletes. Through her Facebook blog posts, Mayo regularly sends strong messages of encouragement, proving that it is possible to still enjoy and pursue an activity despite having a disability or injury. Alongside her training and studies, Mayo is in the process of completing a coaching award that will enable her to share her passion with others and stay involved in the sport.

This is a 2017 archived nominee. Voting has closed.