Redcliffe teens dream of representing Australia at the Paralympics
The postponement of the Paralympics means these two talented teens from north of Brisbane could earn a spot on the Australian wheelchair basketball team sooner than expected.
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These two talented teens from the Redcliffe Peninsula aspire to represent Australia at the Paralympic Games – a dream that might come true sooner than expected due to COVID-19.
The Olympics and Paralympics, which were due to be held in Japan later this year, have been postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lachlin Dalton, from Woody Point, took up the sport four years ago and he hasn’t stopped playing since.
“It is pretty much the only thing I do now,” the 19-year-old said.
Dalton was born with a congenital disease, Osteogenesis imperfecta – also known as brittle bones disease.
He is not able to walk so is in a wheelchair permanently.
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His older brother has the same condition, which is how Dalton came to be involved in the sport.
“My brother was a coach for the Queensland Spinning Bullets, I used to watch him and now I’ve started my own journey,” Dalton said.
Dalton trains 12 hours a week, travelling to Mt Gravatt to train four times a week and to Carina for games during the season.
In 2017 he was selected to in the Australian under-23 team that competed in the World Championships in Canada.
“Since I started the sport the Paralympics have always been the end goal for me,” Dalton said.
“I am looking forward to representing my country at the highest level.”
Dalton acknowledged he would have to work hard during the next 12 months to earn selection.
“I’ll probably have to train every day,” he said.
“The pandemic has given me an extra year to try my hardest and get selected in the side.”
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Clontarf teen Zach Binns is in the Queensland under-23 team and has also represented Australia.
Zach, who is 17, was born with club foot.
He has had many surgeries and often has to spend time in a wheelchair.
“I used to play softball for many years but it got too painful,” Binns said.
He first tried wheelchair basketball three years ago and realised he loved it.
“It is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made,” the Clontarf Beach State High School student said.
“I never thought though I’d make it to where I am today.”
Despite the lockdown and sport being cancelled Binns has continued to train at home.
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