This is how Shae Graham celebrated her bronze medal win

The Aussie Paralympian loves to travel, so it was fitting that she celebrated with "the perfect holiday" after bringing home a medal for Australia.

Wheelchair rugby athlete Shae Graham was the first woman to play for the Steelers. This is how she travels:

I travel…

For work (playing for the Steelers, the Australian wheelchair rugby team) and for adventure.

Being a member of the Steelers can mean travelling internationally for competitions three to four times a year, as well as three to four times nationally for National League rounds and the Australian National Championships. Last year I flew to New Zealand, Canada, France and Japan for wheelchair rugby competitions, as well as Brisbane, Sydney and Adelaide. That doesn’t include any of the trips I took to visit friends and family, of which there were many. Sometimes it feels like I live at the airport!

After the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games I stayed in Europe and travelled through the south of France, Barcelona, Florence and Rome. It was the perfect holiday – I got to celebrate winning bronze with my friends in some of the most beautiful parts of the world. It was a great way to wind down and celebrate after three years of intense training. I also stayed on in Japan after a competition at the end of November 2024, visiting Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo, where I got to nerd out and visit Harry Potter World and the Harry Potter Studio Tour. I also visited all the temples and ate all the ramen and gyoza.

The Eiffel Tower from the Seine River in Paris.

I plan the trip…

Myself when travelling for fun and adventure. I’m forever falling into a holiday research hole. I’m in one now. I have a friend’s wedding in the UK in September and might drop in to Greece on the way to visit a friend who lives in the Greek islands.

All trips for wheelchair rugby are organised by the team manager: we get the itinerary and a go time. Sometimes it’s really nice having someone tell you when and where you need to be.

Oia, on the island of Santorini, in Greece.

Inside my carry-on you’ll always find…

A book, a neck pillow, my toothbrush and Bluetooth sleep mask.

As soon as I check in I…

Go to the lounge to snack and chill out in the most comfortable chair I can find.

Shae Graham beside a waterfall, while traveling in the Northern Territory.

My favourite type of travel companion is…

I love travelling with people who are fun and full of energy. My favourite travel companions are keen to see and experience everything a place has to offer.

I like to get to the airport…

Well ahead of time, especially if I’m travelling for wheelchair rugby. We have so much equipment, it takes forever to check in.

A view over Rome, Italy.

I’m loyal to one airline because…

I find that I mainly fly with Qantas – they are really good with accessibility needs.

I’m a points person…

I collect them from all the flights we take for wheelchair rugby.

Ginkaku-ji temple in Kyoto, Japan.

I pack my suitcase…

I use luggage cubes to pack everything nice and neat. But on the way home it’s just a mess.

My preferred plane meal is…

I normally go with the vegetarian option, or I eat in the lounge before we take off.

Arc de Triomf in the Promenade Passeig de Lluís Companys in Barcelona, Spain.

The plane seat I always choose in economy is…

On long-haul flights I always get an aisle seat; on short flights I try to get a window.

My best tip for beating jet lag is…

I get as much sleep as I can on the plane and get out into the sun as soon as I land.

An aerial view of Sydney Harbour.

The city I always use public transport in is…

I prefer to walk (wheel) everywhere when I’m in a new city. I feel like you get to see more of a place that way.

This hack saves me hundreds when travelling…

Using credit/debit cards that don’t charge you international transaction fees, and using points to book fights.

La Quinta Avenida in Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

The destination I think is best bang for buck is…

Mexico. I spent a month there.

The travel app I swear by is…

Google Maps and Google Translate. When researching I find all the things I want to see and do, and all the places I want to eat at, and I save them all to a Google list. When I get to the destination I know where everything is because I have it all mapped out.

Originally published as This is how Shae Graham celebrated her bronze medal win