Aspiring footballer Katelin Gunn back on the footy field as Scotch College assistant coach
Left paralysed by a car accident in 2018, aspiring teen footballer Katelin Gunn was never going to let that stop her being involved in the game she loves; even inspiring Crows captain Rory Sloane.
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The whistle’s shrill call echoes around the oval as Katelin Gunn yells: “Go!”
On her command a group of footballers start sprinting along the boundary line of the Scotch College field.
After school footy training is in full swing with more than 60 girls, across four teams, practising. Two years ago, Katelin was one of them.
Then aged 15, the talented footballer had been appointed captain of the Scotch College middle school girls’ team.
But on December 16, 2018 her life changed forever when she almost died in a shocking car accident on her family’s Eyre Peninsula farm.
Among numerous injuries, Katelin fractured her neck in three places, crushed the T8 in her spine and bruised her T12. She would never walk again.
Katelin spent five months recovering in the Women’s and Children’s Hospital and a further seven months of gruelling daily rehabilitation.
She returned to school at the end of last year and is now excelling in her Year 11 studies, – and has been made assistant coach of the girls’ footy team she used to play for.
“Football’s always been a big part of my life, ever since I was little I’ve always been kicking the footy,” Katelin, 16, says.
“I just wanted to keep that connection going, so if I can’t play I may as well coach and I love being out here with the girls, being around them, being with my friends.”
A special stabilising wheel attachment at the front of her wheelchair gives her freedom as she paces the boundary line watching the action; taking notes; giving instructions.
Head coach of Scotch’s girls’ football, David Scholz, didn’t hesitate bringing his former player on board.
“For her to still be involved is important for her, but I reckon it’s probably more important for the girls,” he says.
“She played at both ends so she’s quite versatile with what she can give in regards to her feedback. She communicates really well, but probably one of her biggest strengths is the care that she has for all the kids she works with; that really stands out.”
Katelin’s inspiring story was recognised by Crows’ captain Rory Sloane, who along with many of his male and female teammates, visited Katelin in hospital. She was a special guard of honour at Showdown 46 at Adelaide Oval.
“She’s one of the most positive girls I’ve ever met,” Sloane says. “Her attitude from the very start was: ‘Yep, it’s happened, so what can I now do?’ I’m so glad she got a coaching role because I remember chatting to her and she said (coaching) was her goal, it just shows that when you set your mind to something you really can achieve anything.”
Katelin’s mum, Julie, is taken back by Katelin’s courage.
“She doesn’t let anyone or anything get to her,” Julie says.
“It’s her will and her courage that keeps me going every day.” Her father Stuart agrees: “She keeps wanting to do more and more things and we’ve got to keep up with her”.
Katelin hasn’t even let medical setbacks – a blood clot a few months back and another operation in July – stop her. “You always learn from your setbacks, obviously, and it’s what you get out of them, rather than think about the negatives,” she says. “My big dream is to go to the Olympics in rowing, or basketball.”