Bridie Duggan provides elite care as Gems’ team physio

Returning home from Papua New Guinea with some fresh bling around her neck, Bridie Duggan is living her dream, doing what she loves on the world stage.

After being scouted by one of the most influential figures in Australian basketball, Bridie Duggan, 31, has had her first taste of international competition and is hungry for more.

Returning home following a successful FIBA U17 Oceania Championship campaign with the Gems, Duggan is hoping for more opportunities on the world stage in years to come.

“My main goal is to continue representing Australia as a physio,” she said.

“I’m hoping to get the call up for the (2024 FIBA U18) Asian Championships next year, but my main goal is definitely to go to the Olympics some day.”

Originally from Katherine, the 2016 NT Young Australian of the Year likely would never have ended up in basketball if not for Covid.

“I was living down in Sydney and actually working for the (South Sydney) Rabbitohs before Covid, but once it hit I decided to come back to the NT,” Duggan said.

“I started work at Territory Sportsmedicine and that was when Basketball NT approached and asked if I’d be interested in working with the Salties (Darwin’s NBL1 team).

“I was holding a workshop on strapping, warm-ups, and foam rolling when David Herbert (Head coach – Women’s Program at the Centre of Excellence) approached and asked if I’d be interested in going down to the AIS for a trial.”

Bridie Duggan celebrating after the Gems won gold, defeating New Zealand, claiming the 2023 FIBA U17 Oceania Championship Title. Picture: Contributed.

After accepting, Duggan flew down and got into her work and was chosen to accompany the under-17 women’s side (Gems) to the Oceania Champs.

“The champs were incredible,” she said.

“I developed such a great bond with all of the girls and after they won, they all came racing over to the sideline, picked me up, and carried me around while celebrating.

“It was also great because once I’d shown them what to do, I barely had to do a thing.”

With her sights set on the Olympics, Duggan said her first point of call is to complete her Masters in Sports Physio and to continue working with the Salties before anything else.

“I’m hoping to get more chances in the future, and what that looks like I’m not sure, as long as I have the platform to help educate elite athletes on health and more so educating elite female athletes on women’s health.”