‘Change the rule’: Calls to overturn school ban preventing Year 9 teen competing

A Sydney teenager has been banned from defending his national title thanks to an old school rule — despite the fact he’s a defending champion.

A Year 9 student has been banned from defending his national cross country title because of an old rule that prohibits people with dwarfism competing.

Alicia Hannan’s son Hugo won the Cross Country National Championships for the second time in 2023 and was set to defend his title later this year.

But despite being the reigning champ, the Sydney teenager was told he can’t take part after Athletics Australia (AA), the national governing body for the sport, implemented an outdated ruling last year was then adopted by School Sports Australia (SSA).

As a result, Hugo – and anyone else living with achondroplasia – has been prevented from running in the annual school competition.

The bone growth disorder is the most common type of short-limbed dwarfism in Australia, affecting around 1100 people in the country.

Hugo, who said he loves the “feeling” running gives him, has been left devastated by the move, which some critics have described as “bureaucratic BS”.

“It gives me a feeling of adrenaline, which makes me not want to stop. At the end, the reward of standing on that podium makes me really happy,” Hugo told news.com.au.

His mum added it was a huge blow, not just for Hugo, but “any young person who has challenges”.

“Hugo was really upset. He’s always had a lot of recognition at school [for his running],” Ms Hannan told news.com.au.

“It’s just really nice to be really good at something and to be recognised for it. It contributed to his confidence and general happiness.”

Ms Hannan said added that Hugo’s achievements can never be taken away from him and stressed that even with the current ban on him taking part in the future, her son has proved to be an inspiration for younger athletes.

One social media comment proves that.

“Love this. As a parent of a boy with short stature who competed at state two years before he was old enough to go to nationals and told he’d never be able to go because of the same rule, we thank Hugo and his family for all of this,” the comment read.

“My boy’s loving talking about Hugo to all his friends and family and about how he’s fighting for everyone with short stature. Hugo should be very proud because he’s an inspiration to my eight-year-old.”

Hugo is a two-time cross country champion. Picture: Instagram/@let_hugo_run

News.com.au understands Athletics Australia co-ran its national cross country competition with School Sport Australia until late 2023, and during this time, the bodies respected each other’s rules.

But when the pair stopped co-running the event together, it meant that the old Athletics Australia rule – which has never allowed short-statured people to run distances longer than 400 metres – was reinstated.

Athletics Australia says it supports inclusion, stating it is a “core value of the organisation”.

“Athletics Australia has a proud history of supporting para athletes competing in events from the grassroots to the elite level,” a spokesperson told news.com.au.

Hugo and his mum. Picture: Supplied

“School Sport Australia’s National Cross Country Championships is not an event run by Athletics Australia. Like other National Sporting Organisations, Athletics Australia has long had technical guidelines, informed by the global peak bodies of the sport, worldwide best practise and the pathways to major international events – none of which are new.

“Athletics Australia is committed to reviewing its technical guidelines ahead of our own 2025 Australian Cross Country season and will seek further clarification from peak bodies including Paralympics Australia, World Para Athletics and the International Dwarf Sports Federation.”

It’s not just at a national level this is an issue. Hugo, who’s dream it is to compete at the Paralympics for running, isn’t able to do so.

Hugo with Nedd Brockmann. Picture: Instagram/@let_hugo_run

Now, Hugo’s family have put together a campaign to prove a blanket ban on short statured runners is unnecessary. They assert there is no medical reason for it. Instead, it should be a case-by-case basis.

“Not everyone can and should run a marathon — but it should be their choice,” Ms Hannan said.

Thus, the Let Hugo Run campaign was born. The Year 9 student’s plight reached Nedd Brockmann, who recently ran 1609km to raise money for Australians experiencing homelessness. It led Hugo to do his own Uncomfortable Challenge. He ran three kilometres a day for 10 days straight. He was told he couldn’t run 400 metres, so he did 10 times that to prove his point.

“It was tough, but he finished it,” Ms Hannan said.

Tear-jerking video footage showed Hugo running alongside classmates on his final day. When they arrived at the school, they were greeted with a guard of honour. Fellow students clapped and whistled as the group made their way into the school grounds. At the end, Mr Brockmann was waiting to cheer Hugo on.

Athletics Australia is planning a review of the rule for the new year.

“I just want them to change the rule because it’s a thing I really love. I’m hoping they do change it,” Hugo told news.com.au.

The family are hopeful that the rule will be changed.