My Story

In December 2022, my life changed in an instant.

A traumatic accident left me with life-altering injuries, forcing me to redefine not just how I live—but who I am. As a serving Royal Australian Navy Clearance Diving Officer, my identity was built on resilience, teamwork, and performing under pressure.

Adaptive sport gave me a way forward.

What started as rehabilitation quickly became something more—purpose, direction, and ultimately the opportunity to represent Australia on the world stage.

That journey led to the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, where I had the honour of representing Australia in Para Nordic skiing and biathlon. To compete at that level, so soon after injury, and as a serving Defence member, is something I carry with immense pride.

“Milano wasn’t the finish line—it was proof of what’s possible, and a platform to go further.”

Winter Performance – From Debut to Contender

Milano Cortina marked a major milestone—but more importantly, it set the foundation for what comes next.

Across the 2025/26 World Cup season and the Paralympic Games, I’ve:

• Established myself in international Para Nordic and biathlon competition
• Continued to reduce IBU qualification points across sprint, pursuit, and individual races
• Built consistency in race execution and shooting performance under pressure
• Gained critical experience competing against the world’s best in Europe and North America

The focus now shifts from gaining experience → to closing the gap and pushing into competitive contention.

The next winter cycle is about:

• Increasing race competitiveness and rankings
• Targeting World Cup progression and Championship performances
• Building toward France 2030 Winter Paralympics

Summer Season – Dual Pathway to LA 2028

Alongside winter sport, I compete internationally in Para Triathlon, maintaining a year-round high-performance environment.

Recent podium performances at World Cup and Oceania level have shown strong progression, and the focus is now on building toward LA 2028 Paralympic Games.

The summer program provides:

• Continuous high-performance competition exposure
• Endurance and race conditioning that transfers into winter sport
• Additional opportunities to represent Australia on the world stage

This dual-sport pathway is deliberate—it accelerates development and keeps performance standards high across the full year.

Where Your Support Goes

Competing at this level comes with significant personal cost. As a Para Nordic athlete in Australia, the majority of funding is self-supported.

Your contribution directly enables both winter and summer campaigns:

❄️ Winter Season (Para Nordic & Biathlon)

Estimated Annual Costs: $25,000 – $40,000+

1. International Competition & Travel

• Europe World Cups / World Championships flights: $2,000 – $4,000 per trip
• Canada/North America campaigns: ~$2,000 flights + logistics
• Ground transport, hire cars, transfers: ~$1,000+ per campaign

2. Accommodation & Training Camps

• Europe pre-season / competition blocks: up to $8,000
• Canada and New Zealand training blocks: $3,000 – $5,000

3. Equipment (Critical to Performance)

• Sit-ski (custom carbon fibre): ~$5,000
• Skis (multiple pairs required): ~$1,200 per pair
• Poles: $500–800
• Waxing equipment & tools: ~$2,400

4. Biathlon-Specific Costs

• Competition rifle: ~$6,300
• Maintenance, transport, and replacement components

5. Race Preparation

• Wax room access, ski passes, tuning materials: ~$500+ per trip
• Contribution to coaching and support staff

☀️ Summer Season (Para Triathlon)

Estimated Annual Costs: $15,000 – $25,000+

1. International Racing

• World Triathlon Para Series events (flights & travel): $2,000 – $5,000 per event
• Domestic and Oceania competitions

2. Equipment

• Handcycle / racing wheelchair maintenance and upgrades
• Wetsuits, race kit, and performance gear

3. Training & Preparation

• Coaching, programming, and support services
• Pool access, track work, and endurance training costs

4. Logistics

• Transport of specialised equipment
• Accommodation and race-week expenses

Why It Matters

At this level, performance margins are small—but the cost of accessing those margins is significant.

Support allows me to:

• Get to the start line at international events
• Train and compete with the right equipment
• Focus on performance rather than financial pressure
• Represent Australia consistently across both winter and summer sports

It also contributes to something bigger:

• Growing Australia’s presence in Para winter sport
• Inspiring injured veterans and others facing adversity
• Demonstrating what’s possible through resilience and opportunity

Looking Ahead

The next chapter is already underway:

• LA 2028 Paralympic Games (Para Triathlon)
• France 2030 Winter Paralympics (Para Nordic)
• Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games

This is about building sustained performance across multiple Games cycles—not just one moment.

Final Word

“I’m not chasing a single result—I’m building a body of work that reflects resilience, consistency, and the opportunity to represent Australia at the highest level, again and again.”