Young Para athletes on track for 2032
With six years to go until Brisbane 2032, Brydi Saul and Rowan Gillam have both set the goal of competing on the world stage for athletics.
For 15-year-old First Nations athlete Brydi, a meeting with Australian wheelchair racing legend Kurt Fearnley helped ignite a sporting journey that began at nine years old when she became the youngest competitor in the Oz Day 10k Wheelchair Event in Sydney.
“Kurt Fearnley introduced me to track and gave me my first track chair. After that, it became my sport,” Brydi said.
“Growing up in a wheelchair meant finding different ways to do everyday tasks, but it has been a blessing to do what I do.”
Through the Queensland Academy of Sport’s YouFor2032 Program, Brydi is discovering what is possible in her sport.
“It was surprising to know I had this opportunity available and to see where it could take me,” she said.
“YouFor2032 has opened up more opportunities, like entering the QAS Para Unit, which has motivated me to train harder and inspired me to do more.”
Rowan Gillam and his father, John.
Rowan, 13, has ambitions to become the fastest blind runner in the world after being identified at a YouFor2032 testing event in April.
He lost his vision after a motorbike accident when he was seven. As soon as he left hospital, he wanted to get moving again.
“When I came out of hospital, I wanted to get on the treadmill and that’s how I started getting into running,” Rowan said.
After first enjoying cross country, Rowan developed a love for athletics and triathlon, drawing inspiration from Queensland sprinters Gout Gout and Lachie Kennedy, who have gone on to represent Australia on the world stage.
His dad first saw YouFor2032 promoted on social media and helped Rowan complete the initial testing at home through the YouFor2032 app, before he was invited to attend a QAS testing day.
“It was a fantastic experience,” Rowan said.
“To compete in 2032 would be a massive achievement ticked off the bucket list. It’s been one of my goals since I got out of hospital.
“The thought of being on the big stage and having the crowd cheering for me gives me goosebumps.”
Queenslanders with elite sporting dreams aged 13+ for Para sports, and between 13 and 23 for Olympic sports, can test their skills via the YouFor2032 Talent Search app.
If they measure up, athletes will be matched to their best-suited high-performance sport and connected with elite coaches, expert insights and the support they need to unlock their sporting potential.
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