EDITION ONE

RISE MAGAZINE

SIMON HEATH

PATMORE DAVIDSON
HOW HE CHANGED WHEN
THE COURSE OF HIS PREPARATION
CAREER AFTER TURNING MEETS
DOWN THE OPPORTUNITY
COMMONWEALTH GAMES
HIGH

WHEELCHAIR ROLLERS
AUSTRALIAN MEN’S
FOOTBALL WHEELCHAIR
MAKES ITS MARK BASKETBALL TEAM
CLAIM BRONZE

WHEELCHAIR SPORT

RUGBY SPOTLIGHT
JAPAN STEALS VISION-IMPARED
GOLD FROM ARCHERY
THE STEELERS

1
Photo: Simon Patmore Source: Australian Paralympic Committee
 RISE
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
CONTENTS
LETTER FROM THE EDITOR.....................................................................................4

INVICTUS GAMES 2018 PREVIEW................................................................................5

AUSTRALIAN ROLLERS CLAIM BRONZE.....................................................................6

WHEELCHAIR FOOTBALL ROLLS INTO FOCUS...........................................................9

HEATH DAVIDSON: WHEN PREPARATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY..............................12

NOT HORSING AROUND: EQUINE THERAPY.............................................................17

SIMON PATMORE: ONE OF A KIND...........................................................................21

JAPAN STEAL GOLD FROM AUSSIE STEELERS IN RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIPS................27

SPORT SPOTLIGHT: VISION-IMPAIRED ARCHERY.....................................................30

A LOOK AT THE CEREBRAL PALSY INTERNATIONAL SPORT AND RECREATION

ASSOCIATION WORLD GAMES IN SPAIN....................................................................32

PARALYMPIAN CHAMP SAM BRAHAM PROFILE.........................................................34

2 3
 RISE
Letter From the Editor
R
ISE is an inclusive sports magazine
aimed at delivering punchy, in-depth
and current information on the
adaptive sports world in Australia.
A common issue brought up by many
of Australians that RISE has spoken to on
the court, the coach’s box and behind the
4 5
microphone have reiterated that living with a
disability is not a ‘miracle’ or ‘against all odds’.
The reality for those living with a disability
is just that: a reality. The same physical and
fundamental laws apply, you’re still late for the
bus sometimes, and you still play sport and
enjoy life.
The framing by media organizations of
disabled athletes in sport and the existence of
those sports at all is pasted into the general
sporting context – using the ‘otherness’ of
adapted sports to sell more issues. The narrative
that success for those with disabilities is worthy
of dramatization is in fact – even where the best
of intentions is certain – in itself a disabling
narrative.
We will strive and be sure to counteract this
media slant that separates those with a disability
from those that are not. We are all normal. Sport
is just another reflection of the enjoyment we
can all bring as an expression of who we are.
We would like to make special mention to
the Disability in Sports Australia team for their
support in getting this inaugural issue off the
ground. Special nods go out to our generous
sponsors. We would also like to give a thankful
salute to the great interviewees and sports-
people that have participating in bringing this
magazine together.
Elliot Goodyer
RISE Editor-In-Chief
Photo: Simon Patmore. Source: The Daily Telegraph
INVICTUS
GAMES
SYDNEY 2018
PREVIEW
By Matt Lynch
RISE Rugby Expert
T
he Invictus Games is a disability-sporting
event, which sees wounded or injured
military personnel and veterans compete in
multiple sports across 7 days of competition.
The first Invictus Games launched in 2014
London, England with Prince Harry serving as
one the creators of the sporting event. In 2015,
the scheduled Orlando Invictus Games did not
Photo: Australian team. Source: invictusgames2018.org
receive enough funding and were subsequently
cancelled. However, 2016 Orlando was the host
of the games and it was televised on EPSN. Last
year’s host of games was the city of Toronto,
Canada and it saw the most nations ever
compete in an Invictus Games.
On October 20 – 27 Sydney, Australia will
have the hosting duties for the 4th Invictus
Games. Eighteen nations look to compete at
this year’s Invictus games with Poland being
the newest country to join. Other countries like
America, Germany and even Middle Eastern
countries like Afghanistan and Iraq will be
returning to compete. Sydney will play host
to over 500 athletes across 11 medal sports
over one week of competition. Popular sports
that will be on display are Wheelchair Rugby
and Wheelchair Basketball both sports which
Australia is ranked very highly in the world.
Paralympic
sports like
rowing and
swimming are
also in the
Invictus Games.
Both sports will
have athletes
competing
in teams and
individually for
gold, silver and
bronze medals. Photo: Sonya and Prince Harry.
Source: Zimbio
There will be
many disability athletes across all countries to
look out for during this year’s Invictus Games.
For the fourth year, Australia has put together
an impressive Invictus Games squad made up
of injured and wounded military personnel.
Corporal,
Sonya Newman, is one such athlete who
will be competing for a medal in swimming.
Newman lost her right leg to surgical
complications and states the Invictus Games
gives her a sense of ‘purpose’ and positive
way of dealing with her injury. Another Aussie
athlete to keep eye on in October is Corporal,
Steven Avery. He is a member of the Australian
Basketball Invictus squad who will likely
medal in the games. Avery sustained his right
knee injury during Army course activity and it
resulted in Avery suffering from Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder (PTSD) and depression. He
says the Invictus Games have motivated him to
overcome his depression and his given him his
‘drive’ and ‘willpower’ back.
The Invictus Games represents the resilience
and persistence of the human spirit. The term
‘Invictus’ is Latin for unconquerable and also
famous poem by William Ernest Henley’s.
Ernest’s poem encapsulates the strength of the
human spirit, and emphasises that the individual
controls the outcome of their life, saying, “I am
the master of my fate, I am the captain of my
soul.” The Invictus Games is a sporting event
that represents more than sport, it’s the stories
behind the athletes, coaches, and teams that
make the event a can’t miss.
 HIGH
ROLLERS
Mitch Gastin
RISE Senior Writer
T he Australian Men’s Wheelchair
Basketball team flew to Hamburg,
Germany in August, hoping to bring home
medallions in the International Wheelchair
Basketball Federation World Championship –
and that’s exactly what they did.
Their campaign first kicked off against a
competitive Argentinian team that kept the scor-
ing neck-and-neck before an offensive onslaught
by the Rollers in the final quarter.
Australian youngster Tom O’Neill-Thorne
wasted no time getting into form, exploding for
17 points, five rebounds, four assists and three
steals in the Rollers’ 19-point victory in game
one.
From this point, the Rollers were feeling
confident. Impressive performances from
Shaun Norris and Bill Latham saw the
national team emerge from the group
stage with a two-to-one record as they
moved on to the Cross-over game
against Brazil.
The Aussies continued the theme of
taking over games in the final
quarter, as they
went on an 18-8
fourth quar-
ter run
to
6 7
sting Brazil and move on to the Quarter Finals
against Poland.
The Polish team made the Aussies sweat, but
a 13-point victory was enough for the Rollers
to advance once more, courtesy of high-volume
scoring from Brett Stibners and Tristan Knowles.
For the third-straight time at the IWBF World
Championship, the Rollers found themselves fac-
ing-off against the USA in the Semi-Finals, with
a chance to advance to the gold medal match.
Australia were not so lucky this time, falling
to the USA 59-84 as they watched the Amer-
icans secure their spot in the championship
match against Great Britain to compete for gold.
American player, Jake Williams put the
brakes on the Rollers with his offensive effi-
ciency, posting 29-points and six re-
bounds, while his teammate Steve
Serio joined in on the fun with
17-points of his own.
The Rollers didn’t have the
firepower to punch back, but Nor-
ris tried his best with 14-points
and three assists in the loss.
Fortunately, a chance at bronze
awaited the Aussies, as they
turned their attention to taking
on Iran on the final day of the
competition to fight for the third
spot.
After suffering a jittery
opening quarter, the Rollers
found themselves behind by
Photo: Jannik Blair. Source: The Wire
Photo: Australian Rollers. Source: Bidgee
Photo: Rollers earn bronze. Source: Australian Paralympic Committee
as much as six-points against Iran. It only took a
swing of momentum in the form of a long-range
three-pointer from O’Neill-Thorne (nine points,
seven assists and two steals) to get the Aussies
rolling.
The final game of their campaign saw the
Australians lift their defensive pressure, finish-
ing with five team steals and scored 15-points
from Iran turnovers.
The Rollers were down by two points at half
time, but it seemed to serve as motivation as
they hit the third-quarter with a spark, scoring
21-points in the single quarter while keeping
their opposition to just nine. By this stage the
fourth quarter was a mere formality and besides
some icing on the cake scoring from Norris and
Latham, finishing with six points and 17-points
respectively, the Rollers had claimed a convinc-
ing victory to win the bronze medal.
The Rollers have made a habit of success on
the international stage by earning four consecu-
tive World Championship medals; landing gold
in 2010 and 2014, while securing the bronze
back in 2006 and now in this year’s games.
Darwin native, O’Neill-Thorne was the best
performing player for in the Australian’s cam-
paign, finishing with averages of 15.8 points,
4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 27 minutes per
game.
 WHEELCHAIR
FOOTBALL
ROLLS INTO FOCUS
By Marcus Uhe
RISE Editor
THE TEAMS

T his year was a landmark year for

wheelchair sports in Victoria, with the
establishment of the Victorian Wheelchair Football
Collingwood, Richmond, Essendon, Hawthorn
and St Kilda were all represented in 2018.

League.
On Sunday September 2, the 10 week
competition came to a conclusion, with
Collingwood (13.4 82) defeating Richmond (2.10
22) by 60 points to claim the premiership in the
inaugural season of the Robert Rose Foundation
Victorian Wheelchair Football League at the
Boroondara Sports Complex in Balwyn, in
Melbourne’s eastern suburbs.
THE SEASON
All five teams competed in an eight game home-
and-away competition. Led by Captain/coach
Brendan Stroud, who has represented Australia in
both wheelchair tennis and basketball, Collingwood
set the benchmark for the competition, topping the
table with seven wins and a draw. Richmond finished
second on six wins, and St Kilda rounded-out the
podium with four. It was a season to forget for the
Hawks, who went winless and ended the year with a

SYDNEY 2018
Wheelchair football is played indoors on a
percentage of just 39. Essendon registered just two
basketball court, with temporary goalposts erected
wins.
at either end of the court.

OCTOBER 20 - 27
Photo: The team captains. Source: The Herald Sun

8 9
 GAMEPLAY posts rather than kicked.
- Each team has five players on court at Not only was Collingwood successful
once. from a team perspective, but forward Rich-
- The game lasts for 40 minutes, broken ard Amon won the leading goalscorer award,
into four 10 minute quarters. with 55 majors.
- The ball moves from player-to-player Despite the winless season, Hawthorn’s Jer-
via handball or underarm throw. A emy O’Halloran had a blast, and was particu-
caught handball is considered a mark, larly appreciative of the inclusiveness offered
and play stops. by his beloved club, and AFL Victoria.
- Following a goal, the ball is returned to
the center of the court for a ball-up. “We’ve been seen as part of a club,” O’Hal-
- The two umpires act as both field and loran said.
goal umpires during the game, with “There’s information on the website and
one stationing themselves behind the we’ve been down to the club a few times and

DYLAN
goals when a set-shot is taken. met the players.
- When the ball goes out of bounds, the
team who touched the ball last “We got all our jumpers presented to us

ALCOTT
is penalized, as the other team is awarded by the players, we’re registered at Hawthorn,
possession. we’re registered by the VFL, and so we’re seen
- Teams can be mixed-gender. as VFL or AFL players.”
- If a player falls out of their chair

EYE
O’Halloran was proud to be involved in
following contact, there’s a stoppage and a
the first season and to open new avenues for
ball-up.
inclusion in the disabled community.
- The court is divided into three zones;
forward, back and center, which limits player “There was state championships and na-

ON
movement. tional championships but nothing organized
like this.
SCORING
“This was, I suppose, the culmination of a

THE
Just like in AFL, teams receive six points
lot of hard work and a lot of people who love
for a goal and one for a minor score.
football.”
However, the ball is handballed through the

PRIZE

Photo: FLAGPIES - Collingwood’s VWFL side performed one-better than their AFL counterparts in 2018. Source: Marcus Uhe

10 11
 WHEN I
t was the day after
Richmond had defeated
Hawthorn in the AFL
PREPARATION
Qualifying Final to advance
further into the post-season
and understandably, avid Tigers
MEETS supporter, Heath Davidson was
delighted. His excitement could
OPPORTUNITY
be sensed even over a phone
call.
Davidson is not only an
AFL fan, but is also one of the
H E AT H DAV I D S O N world’s best wheelchair tennis
Mitch Gastin players and his reasons to be
overjoyed didn’t stop at his
RISE Senior Writer football team’s success.
The 31-year-old Australian
From painted nails to clean eating, Australian has put together a string of
Wheelchair Tennis star Heath Davidson has found impressive performances at his
two most recent international
great success during international tournaments tournaments; the Belgian
Open and the US Open UTSA
recently by preparing for battle in his own unique Wheelchair Championships ITF
Super Series.
way. “I’ve been playing some
pretty good tennis lately. It’s
always tough playing against
the top guys in the world so it
can go either way at the best of
times,” Davidson told RISE.
Davidson’s outing in the
doubles tournament at the
Belgian Open ended in a
triumphant first-place victory
over the world number one duo
from the USA, David Wagner
and Bryan Barton.
This wasn’t the last
Davidson would see Wagner at
12
Photo: Heath Davidson. Source: Twitter @ITFWheelchair
the opposite end of the court
this tournament, matching up
against him in the singles final
of the Belgian Open. He was
unlucky to lose in two sets, 6-4,
6-2, securing second place.
“I really respect him [David
Wagner] as a player and makes
me strive to get better and beat
him on a consistent basis and
until I start doing that mate,
I still got a long way to go,”
Davidson explained.
A new chapter of their
rivalry was written just a
month later on the world
number one’s home turf at the
US Open ITF Super Series.
The battle between the
world number one and the
world number four went the
distance as they fought for
the chance to play in the US
Open ITF Super Series final.
For Davidson, a higher singles
ranking and a victory over the
world’s best was on the line, so
he came out strong, winning
the first set 4-6, but it was
Wagner who weathered the
storm and won the final two
sets 6-3, 6-4.
“There’s obviously a bit
of a rivalry there. He’s one of
the guys I really want to beat
and it just seems that every
tournament I play I come up
against him in a final or a semi-
final and this year he’s had the
better of me.”
Davidson approaches every
tournament with a ‘chase
points instead of trying to
defend points’ mentality and
his success on the court as
the aggressor comes as no
accident, thanks to his training-
first agenda.
13
 “We’ve got it
down to a fine art
I guess, the strict
aspect is more
about the lead-in
to the tournament,
so our training
blocks prior to the
tournament are very
strict with training
and diet and getting
everything set.”
Davidson’s coach, Francois
Vogelsberger told RISE he
has made it his mission to
“channel his energy and
emotion in order to deliver
his best tennis”. He stands by
his preparation routine and
understands the influence it
has on game-day performance.
“We’ve got it down to a fine
art I guess, the strict aspect is
more about the lead-in to the
tournament, so our training
blocks prior to the tournament
are very strict with training
and diet and getting everything
set,” Davidson explained.
He prides himself on having
a relaxed pre-match routine in
the hours and minutes before
an event kicks off. Listening to
music and being laid back in
casual conversation with his
trainer and doubles partner
Dylan Alcott gets him in his
competitive zone, allowing him
the best chance for success.
14
Confidence in any athlete’s
sporting ability grows with
training and repetition,
and Davidson echoes that
sentiment.
“The last thing I want to
be doing is stressing out about
whether I’ve missed many
forehands in training and
whatnot. So, we get that out
of the way early and by the
time we get to the tournament
it’s all there, we’ve done it all
at training, we know what
to expect, we know what I’m
capable of and hope that we
can perform on the day.”
Pre-match rituals are a
concept as old as sport itself,
with many athletes adopting
some that push the boundaries
of what is considered a ritual
and enters the realm of what
could be known as more of an
obscure superstition.
Melbourne Demons star,
Max Gawn watches a chick flick
in the lead-up to every match
he plays, meanwhile Eagles
defender Jeremy McGovern has
been outed by his teammates to
biting his toenails in the locker
room before every game.
Davidson once approached
each match in a similar way
– not by biting his nails, of
course – but he would make a
conscious effort to play every
match with his fingernails
painted.
“As a junior I used to paint
my nails any colour, it was just
a superstition, I don’t know.
I played my first ever tennis
tournament with my nails
painted and I won that, so ever
since then I continued to do it.”
It was not only an aspect of
his junior playing career, but “As a junior I used
his superstition crept into his
match preparation routine as to paint my nails
a professional player when he
made his return to tennis in any colour, it was
2016.
“I started doing it when
just a superstition, I
I came back to tennis four don’t know. I played
years ago but I stopped one
day and nothing changed so I my first ever tennis
think I broke my superstition,”
Davidson said. tournament with
“The next time I beat David
Wagner – whatever I do before
my nails painted
that will definitely stick I and I won that, so
reckon.”
The idea of dieting has ever since then I
a little more scientific proof
behind it in relation to sporting continued to do it.”
performance and Davidson
didn’t get to be one of the best
and a top-three singles world
ranking in his line of sight
in the world by eating like he
going forward with his career
doesn’t care. He has the luxury
and his current routine will Photo:Heath Davidson and Dylan Alcott all smiles with gold medals. Source: The Advertiser
of letting his diet reflect his
give him the best chance to
relaxed personality, but he
reach those goals.
understands the importance of
The one thing he may not
consuming the right foods to be
be prepared for though, is a
the best at his craft.
Richmond loss.
“I’ve got a nutritionist
through Tennis Australia and
they understand that you can’t
stick to it one hundred percent,
it’s just a little too hard…
everything in moderation.”
Preparation is everything
for an athlete and it can be the
difference between being good
and being great.
“Heath improved his
professionalism on and off
court the past few years. His
commitment to the game is
total. Heath covers all the
aspect of competitive tennis;
mental, physical, tactical and
technical,” Vogelsberger told
RISE.
Davidson has Tokyo 2020 Photo: Davidson celebrating. Source: Australian Paralympic Committee
15
 NIKE NOT JUST HORSING
AROUND:
EQUINE THERAPY
READY FOR By Elliot Goodyer
RISE Writer

W
TAKEOFF
hen man rides a horse does he walk on
four legs? This was the riddle posed
by the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates in
around 250AD. In those times, according to
Hippocratic medicine, horses were profound
healers on the battlefield. They were used to
‘ambulate’ or move warriors recovering from
injuries between Athens and Plataea during
the first Persian invasion. It was said that the
greatest healing was astride the steed.
Over 1700 years later a small girl, aided
by tall adults, is led to the centre of an arena.
Waiting in the centre is a gentle-faced brown
horse named Mosman. It takes four of the adults
to lift her onto the horse and close attention to
keep her safe and saddled.
That little girl’s name was Renee. She
was part of a pilot program for children with
cerebral palsy run through the RDA, Riding
with a Disability Australia. Her mother had
been a horse- rider when she was young and
had always found their presence soothing.
Renee completed the six-month pilot at Doveton
Centre, an hour east of Melbourne. Over that
time, she underwent an evolution that would
be studied on the new frontier of scientific
research.
“Athetoid Cerebral Palsy is a certain type,
the way there are different kinds of birds. My
type means that my muscle elasticity is prone to
spasming. I could go from being tight to floppy
Photo: Renee riding the horse. Source: RDA Victoria.
in a matter of seconds and for a long time wasn’t
16 17

Photo: Three horseriders. Source: RDA Victoria
even able to speak”.
With the combined work of her RDA trainer,
physio and Mosman, she began to change.
Over the years her muscles were strengthened
by the conditioning in the saddle and targeted
exercises. Gradually, then in a swift progression,
she was able to sit, then crawl and able to speak.
“I’d had to use sign language and gestures
up to that point. Sometimes I would use a
communication book and use my finger to
indicate what I wanted to say”.
What began as therapy became sport for
Renee. She was placed in the ‘normal’ RDA
group after finishing the pilot program. Over
a period of 13 years she continued to excel
“exponentially” beyond expectations. Shedding
the facilitators who balanced her on her horse
she progressed to a point where she required
only assistance to mount and was able to ride
unaided. Her core had gotten so strong that
she could keep her posture for long training
sessions.
Kay Milton recalls similar stories during her
time as State Manager for the RDA. There is one
moment that stuck with her during her ten-year
tenure.
“A rider came along to RDA one day with his
mother and he got out of the car and ran over
towards his pony calling out the pony’s name,
he was saying “Mickey! Mickey! Mickey!” and
the volunteers looked around and they realised
his mother was crying. They said to her “Why
are you crying?” and she said, “I’ve never heard
18
Championships were
underway. The horses
had to be cooled down
and the dressage
course moved inside
and out of the beating
sun. The snap of
horse-tails sniping
flies blended with
the clop of hooves on
sand within the arena.
Competitors had to be
mopped of sweat as
it was impeding their
vision.
my son’s voice before”. vAfter several hours
There is debate within the medical of the hot competition,
community as to the specific effects of equine Renee performed for
therapy. In rigorous data crunching the short the crowd. Completing
term positive effects of ‘hippotherapy’ (hippo her course with utmost
being the Greek word for horse) have not been grace onlookers
conclusively shown to outplay conventional cheered in unison.
physiotherapy for the development of muscles Some had come from
for children with cerebral palsy. Shepparton, others
A lack of consistent methodology and a made the four-hour
reluctance to reallocate money away from drive with their horses
traditional physiotherapy and occupation in floats as far as
therapy methods have hindered investment in Horsham.
research. By joint judgment
However, Kay concentrates on the “outside Renee was selected as
the numbers” data – that the kids she sees come the winner. The smiles
in are happier and more relaxed than they were were mirrored by her
when they arrived. coach, Kate, and her
“Seeing kids come in and do something mother and father.
they’ve never done before is what everyone is In that moment the
here for. Sometimes it comes just in that split discomfort of the humidity, dust in the air, Perhaps in this statement Renee has
second where you connect, and all the hard the sweet smell of manure and trampled answered Hippocrates unanswered riddle.
work is worthwhile.” wheat, were all forgotten. And Renee It is the riddle that still plagues the medical
For Kay, Renee is an example of the herself is grinning proudest of all – using community when attempting to investigate the
fulfillment and progress that many who the muscles to grin that she might not have clinical impact of equine therapy. It is the riddle
participate in RDA programs undergo. had were it not for horse-riding in the first underlying the debate of which data is more
Renee continued gaining certificate and place. credible and which doctor knows what. In her
honing her abilities until she moved to a new, Recalling the winning moment, she statement it isn’t a philosophical postulation or a
higher intensity riding centre in Western Port said that while she is sitting on a horse one number under a magnifying glass – it is freedom
with a new coach and her sights set on bigger thing is clearer anything else. in human experience and that is what matters
goals. She began entering competitions. “I am granted freedom of movement. most.
At Myuna Farm in regional Victoria, on Freedom of moving naturally without an
a hot February morning in 2017, the State artificial device.”
19
 SIMON PATMORE
ONE
OF A
KIND.
Turning down the

opportunity to compete at

the Commonwealth Games

in his home state was a tough

call for Simon Patmore. Given

his result in South Korea, it’s safe

to say that he made a

sound decision.

20 21
Photo: Simon Patmore on slopes. Source: snowsbest.com
 By Marcus Uhe
L
RISE Editor
ying on his back on the coarse
tartan surface of London’s Queen
Elizabeth Olympic Park athletics
track, Simon Patmore knew that his
2012 Paralympic campaign was over.
As he approached the finish line in the final
of the T46-classification 200 meter sprint, he
tore his hamstring and was forced to finish the
race in excruciating pain.
Incredibly, this wasn’t even his primary
concern at the time.
As if to rub salt into the wound, he was
forced to wait an agonizing 48 seconds whilst
officials determined whether or not he had
snuck home for a bronze medal.
Finally, his achievement was confirmed,
edging out a Cypriot competitor in fourth place
by just .04 of a second
Six years later, when he won gold in the
snowboard cross event at the 2018 Winter
Paralympics in Pyeongchang, becoming the
first Australian male to medal at both the
summer and winter editions of the event, it
wasn’t nearly as dramatic. Despite a small
stumble early on, he coasted home to finish
one second ahead of his opponent, and write
his name into the record books.
Winning medals at both winter and
Photo: Simon Patmore at the 2012 Paralympic Games in London. Source: Australian Paralympic Committee.
22
“I decided that if I’m going to commit to the Wales for four months. who were bullying me or the people below me
“During work, my job was to go from lift to definitely started recognising me based on my
sport, I’m going to have to give it 100%,” lift and check people’s tickets, so I was actually performance and how good a sportsman I was
Patmore told RISE. “I got a job down in able to do some of my training during work. and how I inspired them within their sport.
“Essentially I worked for the resort and “So it kind of changed, really quickly.”
Perisher, as a ticket scanner, so I packed up trained on the weekends.” It was on the athletics track where
my life in Queensland and moved down to New Within 12 months of first riding a board, Patmore’s star initially shone, having fancied
he was competing on the international stage, himself as a sprinter and being ineligible to
South Wales for four months. attributing his smooth transition on the new compete at Paralympic level in team sports.
terrain to his younger days when he would Shortly after finishing school, he began to
summer Paralympics is a remarkable feat
spend ample time skateboarding, surfing and reap the rewards. At just 23 years of age, the
in itself, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
wakeboarding. 2010 Commonwealth Games in Dehli delivered
Prior to 2014, the IT consultant never even
Patmore’s youth was often plagued by him a gold in the 100 metres, something that
ridden a snowboard, and having grown up
bullying and harassment due to suffering from he didn’t entirely appreciate at the time.
in Queensland, he was rarely exposed to the
Erb’s palsy. When he was being delivered, “I didn’t fully understand what I had done
snow.
his arms and neck were stretched, damaging until further down, later in life.
Consider the fact that most of his Patmore’s
his C4 and C5 nerves, which led to an arm “I backed it up in London and then to seal
competitors were raised or reside in the
deformity. it off with getting a gold in Pyeongchang,
northern hemisphere, where snow is plentiful
School became tough, as he learned to was basically like ‘wow that first gold in the
during winter months, and the achievement
adapt to his situation. He saw himself as Commonwealth Games has really set me up for
becomes even more remarkable.
an “easy target” for fellow kids, who would the rest of them’”.
Swapping his spikes for the slopes despite
seldom have encountered the condition before. It was above the shoulders where Patmore
the success of an Olympic bronze and a
“I definitely copped it from the older boys found his success in athletics held him in good
Commonwealth games gold medal proved to
and then it was passed-down through the stead for Pyeongchang.
be a life changing decision in more ways than
years,” Patmore said. “But through sport I was On the day of the snowboard cross final,
one.
able to gain a lot of respect from my peers Patmore found himself in a league of his own.
“I decided that if I’m going to commit to
and in my later years of high school, and also With the upper limb category for snowboard
the sport, I’m going to have to give it 100%,
when I was excelling at sport, a lot of people cross making its debut at a winter Olympics
Patmore told RISE. I got a job down in Perisher,
as a ticket scanner, so I packed up my life in
Queensland and moved down to New South
Photo: Patmore celebrates his win in Pyeonghang. Source: AAP
23
 “I think that what Gold Coast has and counting our golds, and Simon was the would make a difference for Being a role model for there’s para-sports out there
first one to get a gold medal,” Cheryle Hawkins them these days. para-athletes and promoting and this is what it looks like
done has set a benchmark for the next from Oxley Park primary told RISE. “We talked “He spoke to the staff and integration is one thing when we win or lose, and it
games and I think that you’ll find that about his disability and I thought, let’s have then stayed around and signed Patmore continuously has so much more emotion
in 10-20 years’ time that para-athletes a day where we don’t use one arm. The kids a million and one autographs strives to achieve, which is attached to it because people
are just going to be just as much poster- spent the day doing everything normal but with for the parents.” why he was so proud of his see how hard life has been for
one arm restricted.” Following the visit and home state for championing a particular athlete and they’re
boys or poster-girls up on the walls as When Patmore received word of the idea achieving hero status amongst the cause during the 2018 seeing the positive side of
able-bodied athletes.” he was blown away by the interest, and even the kids, Patmore has Commonwealth Games on the things.
heeded the request to fly down to Sydney from maintained contact with some Gold Coast. “I think that what Gold
event, none of his competitors had experienced
Queensland to visit the students back in May. of the students through emails. The program on the Coast has done has set a
the pressures and unknowns that came with
“He came out for the day and spent the day One student even made Gold Coast was the largest benchmark for the next games
competing for a gold medal.
with my class, and then talking with all of year Patmore the focus of a recent integrated sports program and I think that you’ll find
When there were issues with the starting
3 to 6 and any parents. Then the boys (Patmore oral presentation. in the history of the that in 10-20 years’ time that
gate, his competitors began to lose their cool.
and teammate Ben Tudhope) both stayed and “The year threes had Commonwealth Games, with para-athletes are just going to
But the experienced Patmore knew that that
talked about inclusion and disability and what to choose ‘if I could be a 18 able-bodied sports and be just as much poster-boys or
was out of his control, and didn’t let it affect
character I would be…’ and seven para-sports available. poster-girls up on the walls as
his state of mind. His Italian opponent in the
one of my boys chose to be “They’re starting to bring able-bodied athletes.”
final, Manuel Pozzerle, came up with his own
Simon. more para sports into the For the kids of Oxley Park
method to out-think the Australian before the
“He talked about how comm games and I truly primary, there’ll only be one
final.
you get to travel, how you believe that that’s what needs man that the students will
“He wanted to have a conversation and talk
get to go schools and talk to happen… I think it’s a really want posters of.
to me, joke around, get my attention and have
to everybody and you make good thing for the public to
me react to it. Essentially I just and to turn my
everyone happy.” have that awareness that
back to him because I just couldn’t play his
game.
“I had to do what I needed to do. When he
was trying to make conversation or make me
laugh, I’d give him a little but then I’d turn my
back and give him nothing.”
Photo: Patmore 2012 Paralympics in London. Source: Getty Images.
So focused in his preparation was the
31-year-old that he recognised the change in
weather conditions on the slope. The sun that
was present in the morning was replaced by
clouds meaning the course became harder and
faster, which required an adjustment in his
approach.
With the gold medal firmly in his grasp,
Patmore’s life has taken yet another turn.
His success has allowed him to use his public
profile to act as an educator and ambassador
for inclusion and combatting bullying.
No better has this been exemplified than
at Oxley Park primary school in Sydney’s west
where his story has helped educate students
on inclusion, growth mindsets and overcoming Photo: Patmore at local primary school. Source: Twitter @AUSParalympics
adversity. Photo: Australian snowboarder Simon Patmore. Source: Ski & Snowboard Australia

“We were watching the winter Paralympics

24 25
 JAPAN STEAL GOLD FROM
THE STEELERS

DRIVE
HOME
THE
COMPETITION
Photo: Steeler, Jason Lees in action. Source: Australian Paralympic Committee

By Matt Lynch after the heartbreaking loss to the preliminary rounds. They
RISE Rugby Expert Japan in the 2018 International even beat Japan the team that

A
Wheelchair Rugby Federation
recap of the 2018 IWRF
World Champions
(IWRF) World Championships. “We didn’t play
The event was held in Sydney,
where Australia loss to Japan
Australia and would have made our best that night…
61-62 in Sydney, Australia.
“We didn’t play our best
for fairy-tale finish for the
Steelers, but came up one point
we think it was an
that night…we think it was an
opportunity missed to be the
short to losing to Japan 61-62. opportunity missed
The Steelers were the
first team to win on home soil.”
Jason Lees, a team member
dominant team throughout to be the first team to
the whole competition and
of the Australian Steelers
manage to remain unbeaten in win on home soil.”
Wheelchair Rugby said this
26 27
 would eventually bring their
winning to end, by 13 points
in the Group A stages of the
competition.
So where did it go wrong
for the number one ranked
team in the world? The very
same team that won gold
medals in the 2012 and 2016
Paralympic games. The Aussie
Steelers who won the IWRF
World Championships held in
Denmark in 2014. It simply
came down the number of
turnovers they were giving
up. Australia had 14 turnovers
during the match against
Japan, which to put that into
perspective is 3 fewer turnovers
then they had in the entire
competition with 17 through 6
games. Even superstar player,
Riley Batt, couldn’t get them
over the line after an incredible
performance in the finals.
The Japanese seemed to be
the more composed team on
the day, through the brilliant
play of tournament MVP,
Daisuke Ikezaki. Ikezaki took
full advantage of every try-
scoring opportunity, crossing
the line numerous times
throughout the match.
Australia trailed Japan
by five goals at the
end of third quarter
and looked like they
were mustering
comeback with a
few late tries. But,
unfortunately, time
wasn’t on their side
and Japan held firm to
edge to victory.
While the Steelers
took the loss as a major
disappointment, head coach,
28
Brad Dubberley offered a look
to the future for the team.
He was quick to point out the
2020 Paralympics in Tokyo,
Japan and use this loss as a
source of motivation for those
games.
Jason Lees hopes to return
to Steelers selection for
possibly one last Paralympic
Games in 2020.
“At the moment I planned to
try to be selected into the team
that goes to Tokyo. We’re just
on break at the moment, but in
the next couple of weeks I will
sit down with my coaches and
come up with a plan to allow
me to continue with the team.”
Lees being one of the
longest-serving members on
team debuting for Australia in
2009 says he’s not done yet.
“In my mind, I definitely
think my body still good
enough to get through another
two years. I definitely want to
achieve that third gold medal.”
A third gold medal would
restore Australia’s
“At the moment
I planned to try to
be selected into
the team that goes
to Tokyo. We’re
just on break at the
moment, but in the
next couple of weeks
I will sit down with
my coaches and
come up with a
plan.”
dominance in the sport, and
with Lees opting for reselection
he will bring a wealth of
experience to the upcoming
games. At 41, he is the oldest
member of the Australian team
and after Captain, Riley Batt
saying ‘fatigue’ played a major
role in the championship game
against Japan. It does beg
question if the Australian team
will be physically up for the
challenge against the much
younger competition.
Four players in the
Steelers are over the
age 30 and will be two
years older by the time
next Paralympics roll
around.
It does raise alarms
about the upcoming
talent into the sport of
wheelchair rugby. Lees said
it is tough finding new talent
for the sport, especially from
“We’ve been
working hard
in finding ways
to break down
those barriers and
give people more
opportunity to
get involved with
wheelchair rugby.”
regional areas of Australia.
“We do have some
challenges as far finding
new players and giving an
opportunity to players in
regional areas. At the moment,
the only place really, to play
wheelchair rugby at an elite
level is in Melbourne.”
Lees mentioned that
travelling and purchasing
equipment prevents a lot of
upcoming athletes from getting
involved with the sport.
“We’ve been working
hard in finding ways to break
down those barriers and give
people more opportunity to
get involved with wheelchair
rugby. The benefits involved in
the sport are huge and I want
to let everyone know about
them.”
Victoria is the number
one and only destination for
upcoming athletes to become
elite, in regards to wheelchair
rugby. Yet, in a country where
sport is so highly celebrated,
it’s unfortunate that there
aren’t more elite disability
sporting programs around
Photo: Australian Steelers celebrating success. Source: Australian Paralympic Committee
Australia.
Sydney is looking to
change this by becoming the
next go-to location for all
who want to develop their
wheelchair rugby skills and
knowledge. Pat Curtin is the
Sports Development Officer for
Wheelchair Sports New South
Wales (WSNSW). He says
wheelchair rugby is rapidly
developing and looks to rival
Victoria in the near future.
“We don’t have as much
growth and exposure as
Victoria, though we working
tirelessly to grow the sport of
wheelchair rugby in New South
Wales”
Curtin states that funding
plays an enormous part
in growing the sport and
hopes of one day creating
an elite program that feeds
into the national side. Until
that happens though, he is
focused on holding multiple
tournaments in and around
Sydney and NSW.
“Every month we hold the
Sydney Slam series which is
an invitational program for all
players looking to compete. We
are also looking at organising a
tournament against Victoria in
February, so players will have
every opportunity to develop at
all levels.”
The sport of wheelchair
rugby in NSW appears to be
growing with each passing
year. It’s with continual
developments like this that will
ensure the sport will become
accessible to all those who
want to compete. Who knows
the next wheelchair rugby
star is out in some remote
part Australia waiting for an
opportunity to play. And after
losing to Japan, he could be the
one to bring gold back to the
Australian Steelers.
29
 SPORT IN THE SPOTLIGHT:
VISUALLY-IMPAIRED ARCHERY

By Elliot Goodyer
RISE Editor in Chief

A rchery is a sport
requiring accuracy, skill
and consistency which is reliant
on the quality of the archer’s
eye. But how do you train your
eyes when they are covered
by a blindfold? Or what if you Photo: Vision-imparied archery. Source: archery.org.au
couldn’t see at all?
the back of the hand the archer a tripod. For a regular archer,
Visually Impaired (VI)
could adjust the elevation of one uses the bow-sight to line
archery is a growing sport in
their bow and then measure up the arrow to the target. The
the adaptive sporting world. It
their shot accordingly. tactile sight plays the same
was created in Europe during
The VI archer is also able role is therefore moved up and
the 1970s and has spread
to use a ‘spotter’, an assistant down to suit the individual
throughout the world, being
who helps to set up the foot archer as they improve and find
added to the Para-Archery
locators and tactile device, give what suits them.
World Championships in 2015.
feedback and aid with safety.
According to the World Archery
Since its beginnings the The Tripod
rules a competing VI archer
technology has developed a The tripod ensures that,
must wear a complete blackout
long way. There are now three even on uneven ground, the
eye-mask while shooting.
main adaptive aids: tactile device is at the correct
The question remains
height, straight, and lined up
though, how do you hit a target
The Foot Locators with the target.
from 30 metres, without seeing
Foot locators are used to Though it may seem
it?
place the feet consistently, superhuman, with a strong
The key lies in a
which is crucial for posture and coach, a lot of practice and
combination of physics,
boy positioning. By screwing consistent set-ups, VI archers
mathematics and practice –
measured pieces of wood to get are sometimes even able to
the VI archer uses an aiming
a capital E shape, the VI archer outperform regularly sighted
apparatus and muscle memory
is able to maintain the same archers.
to aim for the bullseye.
stance each time.
Initially the aiming
Visually Impaired Archery
apparatus was very unrefined.
The ‘Tactile Device’ is a developing sport that is
A VI archer stood aligned
Archery Great Britain’s Head becoming a larger part of the
against a hospital drip stand
Coach, Ken Bearman, infused Para-Archery community in
using suspended brush bristles
science into the VI setup. The Australia.
as a ‘tactile’ reference point.
tactile device is a small ball
By the change in sensation on
that extends horizontally from
30 31
 Australia’s Golden
Generation
Swimming sensation Tahlia Blanshard took
home a medal of each colour, with all other
medals being won in athletics events.
England topped the medal table after
dominating in the pool with 26 gold medals and
44 gold in total. Poland performed best on the
track with 26 gold medals in athletics clinching
second place overall with 27 gold medals.
Canada finished third with 19 gold medals. The
only countries heading home without a medal
were Brazil and Lithuania.

INSURANCE
People living with cerebral palsy experience
Photo: Australian athletes and staff at the 2018 CP World Games. Source: permanent movement disorders usually
Disability Sports Australia appearing in early childhood. Caused by
abnormal development to parts of the brain
By Dean D’Angelo controlling movement, balance and posture,
RISE Writer CP symptoms include poor coordination, stiff

A
or weak muscles and tremors. CP often impairs
thletes with cerebral palsy spent the first vision, hearing, swallowing and speaking.

BE SURE,
two weeks of August competing in para Peter King, Manager of Sport Development at
athletics, cp football, para swimming, boccia and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance was the Australian
wheelchair slalom at the 2018 CP World Games Team Manager for the 2018 campaign.
held in Sant Cugat, Barcelona, Spain. “To be involved in the development of young
The CP games are held every three athletes is a key part of my role within the CPA
years and are hosted by the Cerebral Palsy Sports program. From a personal viewpoint
International Sports and Recreation Association it has been so rewarding to see how sport
can change people’s lives and teach them so
(CPISRA). Backed by DSA, the 2018 Australian
many skills for their future careers, personal

INSURE
team was comprised of 5 athletes including relationships and their participation in the
swimmer Tahlia Blanshard, and track and field community” King said.
competitors Summer Giddings, Nick Riches, The next CP World Games are due to be held in
Mali Lovell and Holly Saunders. 2021, with the location still undetermined.
The 2018 team was the largest ever
Australian team to travel to the CP World
Games. Both DSA and the Cerebral Palsy
Alliance (CPA) provided financial and logistical
support, although athletes largely self-funded
their opportunity to compete on the world stage.
Track athlete Mali Lovell won gold in the T36
800m and T36 100m on day one of competition
in Sant Cugat. The 15 year old was competing
at her first international competition. The Aussie
team took home 7 gold medals, 2 silver and 3
bronze for an overall result of 9th on the medal
PRINCIPAL SPONSOR OF
Photo: Tahlia Blanshard, Summar Giddings, Holly Saunders and Mali
Lovell. Source: Disability Sports Australia
table.
32 33

Photo: Bramham at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Games. Source: Getty Images
BRAMHAM EXCITED FOR NEXT-
GEN TALENT
Almost seven years after hanging up his goggles, Paralympic gold medalist
Sam Bramham talks about life outside the pool, difficulties that young disabled
athletes face and new and exciting opportunities.
By Dean D’Angelo
RISE Writer
T
he strong smell of fresh wet paint is a lot
like a steamy chlorine infused lap pool at
6am for Sam Bramham. Both symbolise merely
a step on the grueling journey ahead towards
success.
The long streaks of blood red are carefully
rolled onto the walls of the newly rented shop
front as a handful of tradesmen work feverishly
in all corners of the room. ‘Cheiwen’ will soon
open for business as one of Melbourne’s new
trendy suburban wine bars, with Bramham and
his partner looking to draw local patrons back
into the suburbs for a night out.
A gold medalist in Athens and Beijing,
Bramham has long since retired from
competitive swimming, but it is quite apparent,
as he puts all his strength behind each stroke
with the roller, that he has lost none of his drive
and passion for success.
34
What is also very apparent is his sleek
prosthetic leg. It moves side to side with its
opposite as if it were made of flesh and bone.
Bramham had his leg amputated from his thigh
down when he was just 5 years old due to a
bone marrow disease. His early years at Ivanhoe
Grammar School came with their challenges.
“I was not acutely excluded, it was just
something that the school had to cater for back
then. There wasn’t much education around
inclusion.”
“I couldn’t participate in athletics carnivals,
mainly because my leg would just collect the
hurdles. I couldn’t play football, not because
of myself, but more so because of what would
happen if my leg swung around and hit someone
on the head. Being told you can’t do something
is hard.”
Following the amputation Bramham
discovered swimming as part of his
rehabilitation, and the rest is history.
Bramham qualified as a wildcard for the
Gold in his favoured event.
Retirement came knocking in 2011.
Bramham was forced to hang up his goggles
after a shoulder reconstruction left him unable
to compete.
“I didn’t volunteer to retire, I just wasn’t
competitive anymore, especially in the butterfly
and that really stuffed me up. I didn’t get to
choose.”
He highlights that he was one of the lucky
ones who had a safety net to fall back on.
Photo: Aussie swimmer Sam Bramham. Source: Channel 9
2004 Paralympic Games in Athens. He was just
16 at the time and mid way through completing
year 10. To the surprise of many, he broke the
world record in the 100 metre butterfly event
during one of the initial heats.
“Going from 80th in the world to being the
fastest at only 16 was pretty weird.”
It was a “major disappointment” for him to
collect only a bronze medal, as he swum slower
in the final.
“I came back from Athens and trained my
arse off to rectify where I went wrong. I broke
the world record a million times over, but the
chip on my shoulder was always there in terms
of, why couldn’t I have done this in the Athens
final.”
Bramham also competed at the 2006
Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, having
to swap from butterfly (his prefered stroke)
to freestyle due to it being the first time that
disabled athletes were included with able
bodied athletes. He expresses great frustration
at the nature of the Commonwealth games,
labeling them as “pompous and pretentious.”
“My main competitors are from countries Photo: Sam Bramham ready to dominate. Source: sambramham.com.au
that aren’t part of the Commonwealth, so every
gold medal I won was something that I couldn’t “The come down was bad for me, but not
care about to be honest. You need to compete anywhere near as bad as others. You see such
against the best in the world.” high rates of alcohol, drugs and gambling
Bramham describes his Athens with retired athletes because they don’t have
disappointment as a “great motivator” heading anything else to put their energy or drive into.”
into Beijing in 2008. He describes his second Bramham talks of how he used his sports
paralympic games as getting the opportunity to marketing degree from La Trobe University to
rectify where he went wrong, finally winning
35
 rehabilitation.
Bramham warns the next generation to
always know what they are getting out of sport.
He describes the social aspect as an invaluable
opportunity for young people with a disability to
find out about each others stories.
“No matter how complex your disability is,
talk to other people about their disability, the
hardships and the good stuff. Learn from each
other.”
He advises anyone wanting to pursue sport
at a professional level to identify a goal and then
“smash it”. That is certainly what Bramham is
doing these days.

Photo: Bramham in action. Source: sambramham.com.au

F OREV ER
AST ER
help other paralympians who weren’t being
paid at the time. He worked to help them secure
alternate funding sources including being the
driving force behind a Ch7/ABC deal to secure Photo: Bramham visiting fans. Source: sambramham.com.au
TV rights to screen paralympic sports.
He describes his passion for being to help Each stroke of the paint roller brings him
others as what directed him towards what one step closer to smashing his next goal. Life
he does these days, which is working with after swimming has brought many triumphs and
young disabled kids. He provides them with challenges but Sam Bramham hopes that his
the opportunity to enjoy themselves through most recent pursuit will keep him feeling like a
sport. As an ambassador for Disability Sport champion for many years to come.
& Recreation he works with many sporting
organisations across the state who all now have
a focus on disability and inclusivity.
He has been able to facilitate opportunities
for many children to continue their
rehabilitation through social competition
rather than just traditional forms of isolated

36 37
 RISE
MAGAZINE

38