World Dwarf Games: A chance to celebrate, connect and inspire

Members of the NZ team attending the World Dwarf Games. From left, Zena Sargison, Ella Sargison, Nina Kersten and Claire Keefer.
Photo: Supplied

The 8th World Dwarf Games start this weekend in Germany, the largest international sporting event held exclusively for short statured athletes.

The aim of the Games is to attract Little People from around the world to participate in a range of sports and give them a chance to test themselves against others of similar stature.

Aotearoa is sending a team of five.

Amy Dunn (L) and Zena Sargison.
Photo: Supplied

Auckland’s Zena Sargison is one of the New Zealanders attending and the 26-year-old said it’s important to be able to compete on a level playing field.

“We don’t really have anything like this on a national level. They do have Para sports, but there’s not really enough (short statured) athletes to play each other. So it’s really cool to have these international events where people can compete against others the same as them.”

Sargison’s older sister Ella is also heading to Cologne and will compete in badminton, football, boccia and table tennis.

Ella Sargison.
Photo: supplied

While badminton is her main focus, it’s a sport she somewhat fell into.

“The last games in 2017, my friend from New Zealand was going to go and she was the only one from New Zealand who was going to go, so she was going to join the Australian team and I was said ‘oh you can’t do that!’, so we joined up together and started training and playing badminton.”

And the older Sargison has her eyes on gold in Germany.

“Last time we got two gold medals for New Zealand. So if we can come back with more than last time that would be awesome.

“I’d definitely like to get something and bring it back and show others that it is possible and that even if you disabled or you come from a minority group that there are places there for you.”

The World Dwarf Games also hold non-sporting events to celebrate understanding and promote awareness.

Zena Sargison.
Photo: Supplied

Zena Sargison has never faced direct discrimination in sport, but she said attitudes surrounding short statured athletes can be disappointing.

“In the past short stature has been seen as quite a comical disability. That can play into self-confidence and being seen in that light can be quite hard. Something like someone saying ‘Can you run? I want to I watch you run, hahahaha’ that sort of thing. Hopefully society is evolving and we can move away from that.”

The Games also introduce participants to elite athletes with dwarfism, many of whom have participated in international competitions such as the Paralympics.

One of those is Auckland 23-year-old Amy Dunn, who has represented New Zealand at the Oceania Track and Field Championships and was selected for the 2021 Para World Champs but decided not to go.

She will compete in badminton, powerlifting, shot put, discus, football and boccia in Germany.

Photo: Supplied

Dunn said as someone of short stature, she missed out on sporting opportunities when she was younger.

“Like everyone else I played sport in primary school, but by the time I got to intermediate and high school, everyone had their growth spurts and I stopped growing. So it was quite hard to continue sport.”

Dunn works for the Halberg Foundation and is a big believer in sport being for everybody.

“Working for an organisation that promotes inclusion in sport and recreation, I’ve discovered it’s actually quite easy to modify activities and sports and they can still be competitive without levelling them down for all the others.

“The likes of Badminton New Zealand, they’re really supportive and up there with their inclusion work. It’s now time for other national sports organisations to follow that.”

Dunn and the Sargison sisters volunteer for Little People of New Zealand with Zena being the vice-president.

She reckons sport can benefit all short statured people, not just those who want to win.

“Sports are really good for health and wellbeing. I like pushing myself to meet new goals and I find it quite fulfilling.

“When you have a disability it can be quite motivating to see how far you can get and see what you can do.”

Zena Sargison is chasing a podium finish in powerlifting at the Games, but she believes the chance to connect with other short statured people and make lifelong friendships, will be just as important.

-RNZ