Roller Derby World Cup: Mackay’s Keanu Falconer wins bronze in France

A Mackay teenager vividly recalls the moment he walked in to his home and saw his mother reduced to tears following a shock phone call. What came next was even more astonishing.

If not for his mum’s intuition and a chance encounter, Keanu Falconer may never have taken up roller derby.

A handful of years later and the sport has taken the 14-year-old Mackay boy to France to represent Australia at the Junior Roller Derby World Cup.

“We moved to Mackay… we found some rollerskates in the op shop and I thought ‘oh, that’ll be a good family sport for us’,” said Kellie Scott, Keanu’s mum.

“We went to the skating rink in town and met some of the local roller derby league members, and they told us they were starting a junior league.

“We took my daughter originally along to join and then Keanu ended up joining as well. Our whole family skates now, except my youngest, we all kind of get really involved in it… it’s a great community of people.”

That community was instrumental in helping Keanu and his family settle into the new area.

“He’s made so many friends through skating. He actually works at the skating rink now, that’s his part-time job,” she said.

Keanu Falconer ‘s at home on the skates. Picture: contributed

Keanu well and truly fell in love with the sport. A typical week for the Pindi Pindi resident could include roller derby training, inline hockey training, coaching new skaters, and a social skate on the weekend. Oh, and work at the rink of course.

“It’s an amazing feeling, just watching him when he puts his skates on and goes out to play, you can just see how much he adores it, he’s so committed and so in his body and in the moment of it all,” Scott said.

‘A wave of shock’

Keanu took to the wheels like a bee to its hive, and soon enough, he’d find himself selected to represent Team Australia at the Junior Roller Derby World Cup.

It’s no small feat either, with the tournament open to under-18’s, Keanu is one of the youngest competitors at just 14.

He vividly remembers the moment he found out he’d be representing his nation.

“I’d finished work, I came home and I’m really tired and mum called me over crying and my coach is on the phone just like ‘congratulations. you made it on to Team Australia’,” Keanu said.

“It was just like a wave of shock, but I was thrilled honestly.”

It was a successful tournament for the Aussies too, finishing third out of six nations to claim bronze, it was their first time ever medalling at the event.

Team Australia was all smiles. Picture: Contributed

“Everyone on the team did amazing, all of those skaters are just phenomenal,” Keanu said.

“I was really happy with my game-play because I was coming over here thinking it’s all these big guys, I’m not going to be able to move and they’re just going to hit me. But it was good, I got a few jammer knockouts and did some good offence… I was kinda stoked.”

A 16-point jam was Keanu’s individual highlight, meaning he managed to complete four laps past the opposition’s four blockers in his allotted time.

As for the bronze medal, Keanu said it was surreal.

“That was honestly the best feeling ever,” he said.

“It was a great experience for me and everyone, and at the end of (the tournament) everyone on our team was like we don’t wanna leave, we wanna keep playing.”

“I was just so happy that we got a medal and played well. We didn’t play dirty, we had good sportsmanship, we were high-fiving everyone on the other team and it felt really good.”

‘How can you put a price on this?

Keanu’s dad Craig Falconer accompanied him to France, and was thrilled with the opportunity.

“It’s just awesome,” Craig said.

“I actually drive for a courier In Mackay. I’ve been driving for a while and I work a lot of hours and I don’t get to see much, but to actually come over here and see my son represent his country… honestly just proud as punch, it was awesome to watch, couldn’t be happier.”

The opportunity came at a significant cost however, with Craig estimating they’ve spent close to $30,000 between travelling to interstate trainings and the France trip.

Keanu Falconer and dad Craig at Disneyland Paris. Picture: Contributed

And this is only the beginning of Keanu’s roller derby journey.

The next Junior Roller Derby World Cup in 2025 is set to be hosted much closer to home in Brisbane.

Originally published as Roller Derby World Cup: Mackay’s Keanu Falconer wins bronze in France