Paralympian Vanessa Low says she will not let having a baby stop her from competing in Paris in 2024

Vanessa Low is an athlete, survivor and unwavering optimist. She is also a beaming mum-to-be.

Now 31, Vanessa has lived as many years since the accident that resulted in the amputation of both her legs as she did before it.

In 2006, when Vanessa was just 15, she was doing something as ordinary as waiting for a train, when, ill-fatedly, she lost her balance.

«I was actually really fortunate,» Vanessa now says of the traumatic event.

«Because I'm still here, still alive and still living a really good life … and I now couldn't imagine my life any other way.

»Going through my accident turned into one of my biggest opportunities and I think it did so because I opened myself up to it, instead of trying to change back to normal."

For everything that the accident took away, Vanessa has compensated for it with fervent optimism, determination and accomplishments, including Paralympic gold.

And it is that ambitious nature that is fuelling Vanessa to achieve her next sporting goal — competing in Paris in 2024, after welcoming a baby boy later this year.

The Paralympic gold medallist recently announced that she and her husband Scott Reardon, who is also her coach, were expecting a baby.

«I loved my childhood and I really want to make sure I can give my child the best possible start they can have in life,» Scott said.

«We are just really excited to grow a little human and teach it to be a nice human being and build this family life,» Vanessa added.

The couple credits their shared experiences — including hard times — as what drew them to one another.

Scott is also an amputee, having lost his leg in a farm accident when he was just 12 years old.

«I think it's so special that our adversities, our accidents, in a way, have brought us together,»