As part of our partnership with Paralympics Australia, we recently had the honour of interviewing four Paralympians preparing for the Paris Paralympic Games.
We spoke to Jamieson Leeson, Timothy Hodge, Mali Lovell and Jonathon Milne about the challenges they faced when getting into their chosen sport, the Paralympian mindset, and their advice for aspiring athletes.
© Sport the library / Greg Smith / PA
Access to Para-sport in the country: Jamieson Leeson
Sport: Boccia
Classification: BC3
Impairment: Congenital spinal muscular atrophy
For Jamieson, there simply were no viable options for boccia anywhere near her while she was growing up.
“There was one [boccia club] two hours from where I lived… It was basically just kids throwing balls around,” recalls Jamieson. “That club kind of fizzled out and then there was nothing. I had no real interest in playing because I knew there was nothing available to me.”
Even after being discovered by one of the Australian coaches at a rare school competition in 2017, Jamieson had to travel six hours to Sydney to train with the team every second week – a huge commitment for a then-15-year-old.
Being out in central NSW made it difficult for Jamieson to start her boccia career, but “Growing up in the country there’s always barriers that I’ve faced… so this was just another challenge I wanted to overcome,” says Jamieson. She is now headed to her second Paralympic Games – safe to say that despite the initial setback, she has overcome that barrier to participation.
Qualifying as a Para-athlete: Timothy Hodge
Sport: Para-Swimming
Classification: S9
Impairment: Right below-knee limb loss
After Timothy’s right foot was amputated at four and a half years old, he was convinced he would never be good at anything. His mum had a different idea, signing him up to try different sports until they found the one that fit – swimming.
“I could call swimming my sport,” says Timothy (who scored two silvers and a bronze at Tokyo 2020, and has recently broken the 200m Individual Medley World Record for the second time).
His biggest challenge to competing as a multi-class swimmer was becoming nationally and internationally classified as a Para-athlete. With a limited number of classifiers in the country, it took some wrangling – and his first go was only valid for 12 months due to an issue with the panel. The classification process was a “huge undertaking”, and once that was done, Timothy had to find a club or coach willing to coach him as a Para-athlete.
“Starting is the hardest part,” says Timothy. “It gets easier from here, and it gets a hell of a lot more enjoyable from here as well.”
Overcoming physical limitations: Mali Lovell
Sport: Para-Athletics
Classification: T36
Impairment: Ataxia (Cerebral Palsy)
Mali’s first challenge in sports was to “run and not fall over.” Now a T36 Para-athlete and U20 200m sprint record holder, Mali was born with ataxia (Cerebral Palsy) which impacts her muscle control and balance.
“I didn’t feel like I wanted to be different from the other able-bodied people,” she recalls of her early sporting career. “And then I realised how inclusive Para-sport is.”
Careful training over the years – including a gradual ramp-up in intensity as the Paralympic Games draws nearer – and an excellent support system helped Mali reach her goal of qualifying for Paris 2024.
Her current training includes three days on the track, two in the gym, and a session in the pool; balanced with a recovery day and regular massages to counteract tight muscles. Some of Mali’s warmups and drills are also adapted for her balance and coordination.
Maximising effort: Jonathon Milne
Sport: Para-Archery
Classification: ARW2
Impairment: Tetraplegia (from accident) – affecting C7 down
Jonathon started archery while in rehabilitation following a diving accident. With Sydney Olympic Park nearby, he decided to try the sport as it was something he could do by himself that was technical enough to keep his mind busy.
“It was more or less just something to keep me occupied and give me something to play around with,” says Jonathon, who is soon to compete at his third Paralympics and has a slew of national and international wins under his belt.
He originally picked the sport because it was something he could do without needing a partner, but he found that navigating the grass at the archery range to retrieve arrows was difficult in his chair. Even with a bigger wheel attachment, he couldn’t get the most out of his training before his arms were fatigued. To mitigate this, he started to organise shooting at the same time as others so they could pull his arrows.
While he discovered a natural talent for archery and did well self-teaching from watching other compound archers, working with his coach has allowed Jonathon the benefit of an outside perspective to refine his technique and get the most out of his training.
Resilience and doing your best
Not putting undue pressure on yourself – even for athletes on the world stage – is an important part of making sure you can continue to enjoy and thrive in your sporting journey.
Despite the high stakes going into an event like the Paris Paralympics, it is clear that mental resilience plays a big part in the lives of our Australian athletes. Taking it game by game, enjoying the moment, and putting everything they can into each tournament, race or event is par for the course.
As Timothy’s mum wisely told him, “Just do your best. If you come first, if you come last, the results don’t matter; just try your best.”
Results can seem all-encompassing, especially for new or younger athletes, but that can quickly lead to discouragement. If you prioritise participation and effort over scores or who won, you can develop a healthier mindset that focuses on growth over outcomes.
Advice for aspiring athletes
Jamieson Leeson
“Trying everything and taking every opportunity that comes your way is so, so important… You don’t know what something’s going to do for you until you give it a shot.”
Timothy Hodge
“No matter how fearful you are, no matter how hesitant you are to start the journey – starting is the hardest part. It gets easier from here, and it gets a hell of a lot more enjoyable from here as well.”
Mali Lovell
“I would say just give it a go. There are so many great groups out there. And just try and find the sport that you like and love.”
Jonathon Milne
“You’ve got to enjoy, you’ve got to have a bit of fun.”
Starting your journey with sport
The first thing you try may not be the right fit for you. Our Paralympians have all tried more than one sport:
- Mali used to play soccer before committing to athletics.
- Timothy tried multiple sports before finding swimming.
- Jonathon tested wheelchair tennis before deciding on archery.
- Jamieson tried boccia as a child before re-discovering it later.
If the sports you have tried so far don’t feel right for you, there are still plenty of options in the increasingly accessible world of Para-sport. Come-and-try days are perfect for allowing people to give sports a go, without committing to anything.
Your local disability sports networks will have more information about come-and-try days near you. Here are some places to look:
- Paralympics Australia’s events calendar
- Disability Sport Australia’s regional sites for state-specific information
- Community notice boards – take note next time you go past one at the supermarket or community centre, on local radio, or if something gets posted to a local community page on social media.
Paralympics Australia & NDSP Plan Managers
With the Paris Paralympic Games just around the corner, we are proud to be working with our partners Paralympics Australia to amplify the power of sport to create positive change.
Keep an eye out for more accessibility in sports content as we get ready to cheer on our champions in Paris!
