SA teen Kai Nixon is battling leukaemia but on his way to fulfilling his dream of qualifying for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games

When 13-year-old Kai was told he had cancer, his life was essentially put on hold – no sport, no school, no parties. But now he has his eyes set on Olympic glory.

After a year of gruelling cancer treatments, Kai Nixon is one step closer to achieving his dream of playing lacrosse for Australia.

Diagnosed with leukaemia shortly after starting high school last year, the “fit and healthy” 13-year-old lost more than 19kg while undergoing intense chemotherapy and multiple surgeries.

Forced to step away from the game he loves, Kai began training to make his return to the field after his treatment ended in April.

“He lost all of his strength in his body and his muscles, so he literally started from scratch,” Ms Nixon said.

“He started with a personal trainer back around May, we went down to the lacrosse field to shoot some goals, and Kai could only manage shooting 15 goals.

“He’s going to the personal trainer twice a week and then does gym sessions, goes running and he’s back training with his mates at his club (Glenelg) and now he’s shooting over 150 plus goals an hour.”

Kai fell in love with the sport when he was 6 after going to a ‘come and try’ day at his local club. Picture: Dean Martin

The 13-year-old has spent the past year battling cancer while working hard to get back on the field. Picture: Dean Martin

Five months on, the Adelaide teen has gone from strength to strength, playing in his team’s grand final – which they won – earlier this month and earning a spot in Lacrosse Australia’s U15 National Tournament.

“It feels really good, since I haven’t been able to play for a while,” he said.

“I’m a bit nervous but I feel pretty good going back to normality, going back to school, hanging out with mates and playing lacrosse.”

Ms Nixon, a former florist, has been by her son’s side throughout his cancer battle and was “so proud” of how far he’s come.

“When he was diagnosed, he had to stop everything that was normal that his mates were doing, so he couldn’t play sports, he couldn’t go to school, he couldn’t go to parties,” she said.

“All of his friends were making state teams for lacrosse and Kai could only sit back and watch, which was just heartbreaking.

“He’s a very resilient, strong kid and when he’s on the field, he has his game face on. If there’s a ball to be won, Kai will win that ball, he gives 110 on the field, it’s amazing.”

A talented lacrosse player, Kai hopes to one day play for Australia. Picture: Dean Martin

Now undergoing monthly oral chemotherapy treatments until November next year, Kai, who began playing lacrosse for seven years, has his eyes set on representing Australia at the 2032 Brisbane Olympic Games.

“Representing your country and where you come from is everyone’s sporting dream, it means a lot,” he said.

This year he won a $3000 Redkite and Coles Dare to Dream scholarship as a runner-up to help him chase his Olympic dreams.

“It’ll help me get back out there and get fit as I’ve lost most of my muscle mass and help pay for my personal trainer, specialist coaching and equipment,” he said.

Originally published as SA teen Kai Nixon is battling leukaemia but on his way to fulfilling his dream of qualifying for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games