Since we first shared Milly’s journey toward the 2028 Paralympics, she has wasted no time turning ambition into action. The 2026 season is already shaping up to be something special, with records broken, milestones reached, and a new chapter about to begin.
Milly Marshall-Kirkwood in action.
A powerful start
Milly opened her summer circuit at the Potts Classic in Hastings, laying down strong baseline throws of 18.40m in discus and 5.37m in shot put to set the tone for the season ahead. From there she attended a High Performance Sport New Zealand camp, sharpening her focus both on and off the field. These camps are about more than physical performance. They build mindset, discipline and resilience, all essential ingredients for success at the highest level.
Milly then headed to Canberra for the Summer Down Under International Series, where she pushed her New Zealand U20, 19 and 18 shot put records even further with throws of 19.68m in discus and 5.72m in shot put. The trip also delivered a key milestone, and Milly is now officially internationally classified as an F57 athlete.
Breaking barriers and claiming a record
At the ACT Championships she broke through a long-standing mental barrier, surpassing 20 metres in discus with a 20.21m throw. That mark not only meant a personal breakthrough, but it secured her the Women’s F57 Oceania Record. A huge milestone and a proud moment for Milly and her support team.
Milly Marshall-Kirkwood prepares to throw during competition.
Back home and pushing through
After a quick turnaround and competitions in Wellington at the Sola Power Throws and Capital Classic, Milly is heading to Dunedin to begin a new chapter at the University of Otago, building toward even bigger goals this year. It represents the next phase of growth, both academically and athletically.
Behind Milly’s rapid progress is the backing of her sponsors and supporters. Clarus is proud to support Milly and of the incredible milestones she is achieving, we can’t wait to see what comes next!
If you would like to support Milly visit – givealittle.co.nz
For more information about the Firstgas Community Fund visit - clarus.co.nz/about-us/community
