16 Facts About Eve Rimmer

Eva Marion "Eve" Rimmer nee Davies was a New Zealand Paralympic athlete.

In 1952 at age fifteen, Eve Rimmer was left paralysed from the waist down when the vehicle she was in crashed on a dark wet night.

Eve Rimmer went on to be a multi-medal winner in shot put, javelin, pentathlon, discus, swimming and archery, In 1973 she received the British Empire Medal.

Eve Rimmer married Kelvin Stanley Rimmer, a radio engineer, and despite being told she would probably never be able to conceive, gave birth to two healthy girls.

Eve Rimmer has since been regarded as an inspiration to those with disabilities and able-bodied people.

Eve Rimmer was actively involved with the paraplegic organisations throughout New Zealand.

Eve Rimmer gave many paraplegics throughout the world the ability to believe that they could achieve anything they wanted to.

Eve Rimmer was the first woman selected to represent New Zealand at the Paralympics.

Eve Rimmer was the only female named along with fourteen men to go to the 1968 Tel Aviv Games and the only one to bring home medals.

Eve Rimmer continued to represent New Zealand at the games in Heidelberg, Toronto and Arnhem, winning a total of 14 Paralympic medals, of which 8 were gold.

Eve Rimmer was very successful in the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games and at domestic competitions.

Eve Rimmer was the founder of the Disabilities Resource Centre in Whakatane and was the organiser of the 1990 Games for Disabled in Whakatane, an event which has grown into the Eve Rimmer Games held Easter weekend every two years.

In 1990, Eve Rimmer was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame due to her domination in paraplegic sport over the years.

Eve Rimmer was runner up for the New Zealand Sportsman of the year title in 1972.

Eve Rimmer was a very big influence on sports in Whakatane and the Council honoured her by naming a sports ground after her.

The Eve Rimmer Park is used for rugby league, netball and bmx.