A CHAMPION OF
change
An Australian wheelchair basketball and rugby player, Ella Sabljak is also a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency’s Athlete Council and Sport Integrity Australia’s Athlete Advisory Group. In her own words, Ella talks about the role sport plays in her life, the challenges she’s faced and what drives her to push for change. It wasn’t until I was 15 that I re-discovered sport. That time was pivotal for me in discovering who I was and accepting my disability.
Para-sports encourage individuals to step out of their comfort zones and embrace challenges, showcasing what can be achieved.
It’s more than just sport for me. It’s about pushing my boundaries, reaching my full potential, as well as acceptance and inclusion.
Not only does Para-sport allow people with a disability to play sport, it also opens up the doors to have significant social impact on society.
Para-sport plays a huge part in society by offering people with a disability the opportunity and option to play sport, which in turn breaks down the social stigmas around disability. In high performance sport we are still seeing athletes with a disability being celebrated for ‘getting out there and giving it a go’. Athletes with a disability put in as many hours (as our able-bodies counterparts) to work on our craft with limited financial support, access to facilities, coaching and still manage to come out on top despite all that is thrown at us.
When we see athletes competing at the Paralympic Games, the social impact of having a person with a disability in the public eye allows us to break down those misconceptions of disability and discrimination and fosters conversation about accessibility and creating an inclusive society. Ultimately, the saying 'you can’t be what you can’t see' highlights the importance of representation and awareness in promoting inclusivity.
SPORT INTEGRITY MATTERS | ISSUE 15
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