The Australian Paralympian Madison de Rozario’s achievements have been recognised with the commemorated as a Barbie doll.
“I think younger me would have never believed it,” said De Rozario, 26. “That I, personally, would be a doll. But that someone that looks like me, would be so visible. So, honestly, it really is an amazing, amazing experience. The whole thing.”
To mark International Women’s Day, toy company Mattel has released several European athlete dolls such as British world champion 200m sprinter Dina Asher-Smith, French soccer team captain Amandine Henry, German long jump world champion Malaika Mihambo and Turkish Paralympic swimmer Sumeyye Boyaci.
De Rozario worked closely with the Barbie team to create her likeness, which features her iconic shock of platinum hair and top knot, racing wheelchair and palm guards.
“It was a lot of communication at first, just trying to like get the doll perfect,” she said. “You know, with the race chair and all the measurements, and then the actual doll and all the features.”
“It’s more than the sport and the individual accomplishment,” she continued. “It’s about what I can do with this platform that the sport has helped build and Barbie is helping me to have an even bigger base to spread that message. I’m grateful for it now.”
I don’t even have the words for this one. @Barbie you’re really out here shattering the plastic ceiling. #YouCanBeAnything #BarbieRoleModel pic.twitter.com/1WhCtxbte9
— Madison de Rozario (@madiderozario) March 5, 2020
