1 00:00:05,480 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: Jamison Leeson is the reigning Bocher World Champion in the 2 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:12,360 Speaker 1: BC three pairs event. While the twenty one year old 3 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,600 Speaker 1: only took up bocher six years ago, she started her 4 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: career off with a bank by winning a gold medal 5 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:23,320 Speaker 1: at her first competition, Australia's New South Wales state titles. 6 00:00:24,120 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: Since then, she's gone from strength to strength, including winning 7 00:00:27,840 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: the individual silver medal at the twenty twenty two Bocher 8 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:36,160 Speaker 1: World Championships and gold alongside her teammate Daniel Michael. Now 9 00:00:36,200 --> 00:00:38,959 Speaker 1: she's looking to become the first Australian to take home 10 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: a Paralympic gold medal in bocher. Hailing from a small 11 00:00:42,960 --> 00:00:47,320 Speaker 1: town in regional Australia, Jamison is passionate about providing sporting 12 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:52,320 Speaker 1: opportunities to those with disabilities in remote locations. Upon her 13 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: return from Paris, she hopes to start some of the 14 00:00:55,320 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 1: country's first regional bocher clubs. My name's Sophie and I'm 15 00:00:59,680 --> 00:01:02,160 Speaker 1: the prean youse to hear at the Female Athlete Project. 16 00:01:02,560 --> 00:01:04,840 Speaker 1: While we caught up with Jim, she was gearing up 17 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,559 Speaker 1: to head to her second Paralympic Games. This chat proves 18 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 1: that if you have a love for sport. Determination will 19 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 1: take you a long way no matter where you're from. 20 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:16,759 Speaker 1: We hope you enjoy it and it gets you ready 21 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:19,840 Speaker 1: to cheer on Jamison in the BC three in just 22 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,120 Speaker 1: a few days time on August thirty. 23 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 2: Jamison, Welcome to the Female Athlete Project. 24 00:01:28,080 --> 00:01:30,679 Speaker 3: No, thanks for having me. It's good to have a chat. 25 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:34,959 Speaker 2: Yes, very much, looking forward to hearing how you were 26 00:01:35,040 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 2: preparing for Paris. But before we get to that, can 27 00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 2: you take us back and tell us about Jamison as 28 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:42,520 Speaker 2: a little kid. 29 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 3: Yeah, So for me, I guess the most obvious thing 30 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:47,600 Speaker 3: about me is that I have a disability. 31 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:49,120 Speaker 2: So I have a condition called. 32 00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,240 Speaker 3: Spinal muscular atrophy, which I was born with. So growing 33 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:56,040 Speaker 3: up as a kid, I never walked called I I 34 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,680 Speaker 3: was in a wheelchair my whole life, so that was 35 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:01,480 Speaker 3: something that I've lived with throughout and I think as 36 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 3: a child it was definitely a challenge. And growing up 37 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 3: in a small town, there was no one else in 38 00:02:07,360 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 3: a wheelchair really, so it was definitely a different experience. 39 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:15,720 Speaker 3: But I was always determined. I always loved sport. Unfortunately, 40 00:02:16,120 --> 00:02:18,519 Speaker 3: I wasn't really able to participate in sport as a 41 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:21,839 Speaker 3: kid because of my disability. So there was nothing where 42 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 3: I grew up, but I was always there cheering on 43 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,320 Speaker 3: my brother and sister, and I think, you know, that's 44 00:02:27,320 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 3: where my passion for sport came from. But in terms 45 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:32,960 Speaker 3: of my determination for sport, I've always been determined to 46 00:02:33,480 --> 00:02:36,720 Speaker 3: find ways of doing things. And I always did well 47 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,160 Speaker 3: in school and things as well. So I've always been 48 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 3: determined to do well in something, and that's something is 49 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 3: now botcher. 50 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:46,440 Speaker 2: How did you first get your taste of sport? What 51 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:47,440 Speaker 2: did that look like for you? 52 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:51,080 Speaker 3: Oh? Yeah, I think one of my earliest memories I 53 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:55,919 Speaker 3: have is my sister played nepple as a very young kid, 54 00:02:55,960 --> 00:02:58,720 Speaker 3: and I would always go to her training sessions as 55 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 3: a you know, six seven year old and watch her 56 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:04,120 Speaker 3: after school. And there was a few times that I 57 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 3: was able to be pushed onto the court in my 58 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:08,160 Speaker 3: wheelchair and threw the ball around, and that was kind 59 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,920 Speaker 3: of my very first introduction to sport. But then, you know, 60 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 3: growing up throughout my brother played rugby league for a 61 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:19,000 Speaker 3: few towns around US, so plenty of hours driving to 62 00:03:19,080 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 3: watch him play and train with, watch him train of 63 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:24,440 Speaker 3: an afternoon, So many hours is dedicated to sport as 64 00:03:24,440 --> 00:03:24,760 Speaker 3: a kid. 65 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:26,920 Speaker 2: How did you first find Bocher. 66 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:32,480 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I found Butcher when I was again very young, 67 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:35,720 Speaker 3: but again because of where I grew up, there was 68 00:03:35,800 --> 00:03:39,440 Speaker 3: no Botcher available to me. So when I was about eight, 69 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:44,160 Speaker 3: I think it was, I traveled to Orange, which is 70 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 3: two hours from where I grew up in dunny Do, 71 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:49,360 Speaker 3: and they had a somewhat of a club, but it 72 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 3: was basically just kids throwing balls around, and that was 73 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,840 Speaker 3: kind of how it first came about. But that only 74 00:03:55,960 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 3: lasted about a month or two and then it kind 75 00:03:57,880 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 3: of phased out again at that club happened. So then 76 00:04:01,080 --> 00:04:03,160 Speaker 3: there was no Botcher available to me until I was 77 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 3: in Yeutenant school and growing up in a small school. 78 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 3: They had a Botcher competition again in Orange, and they 79 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 3: said the other boy who has a disability, the only 80 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,239 Speaker 3: other child who has a disability at my school, wanted 81 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:18,600 Speaker 3: to go to the botch to day and they had 82 00:04:18,640 --> 00:04:21,560 Speaker 3: to take two students with disabilities to play. So I 83 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 3: was dragged along to the day, and you know, I 84 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 3: knew a bit about the sport, but not as much 85 00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:30,599 Speaker 3: as I do now, of course, but I knew briefly 86 00:04:30,640 --> 00:04:32,920 Speaker 3: what it was about, but I didn't really want to 87 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:36,279 Speaker 3: go because you know, I didn't think there was any 88 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 3: opportunities available to me growing up in the country, so 89 00:04:39,800 --> 00:04:41,240 Speaker 3: it was a bit of a challenge. But I went 90 00:04:41,279 --> 00:04:44,360 Speaker 3: to the day and then there was an associate from 91 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,240 Speaker 3: watching New South Wales there who kind of said, I 92 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:48,799 Speaker 3: think you got a lot of potential in the sport, 93 00:04:48,920 --> 00:04:51,120 Speaker 3: so whenever you're in Sydney next come and learn a 94 00:04:51,120 --> 00:04:52,480 Speaker 3: bit more about it, And that's what I did. 95 00:04:53,000 --> 00:04:55,080 Speaker 2: Can you give us a rundown of the sport for 96 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,400 Speaker 2: people who might not have watched it before or might 97 00:04:57,400 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: not know the rules. 98 00:04:59,360 --> 00:05:04,160 Speaker 3: Yeah. So watcher is one of only two Paralympic sports 99 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:07,040 Speaker 3: that don't have an Olympic counterpart, so that's one of 100 00:05:07,080 --> 00:05:09,320 Speaker 3: the main features of the sport. But it's kind of 101 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:13,280 Speaker 3: in a way a bit like blaorn bowls, played indoors 102 00:05:13,320 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 3: on a smooth surface, so there's a white target ball 103 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 3: and you've got to try and get your balls closer 104 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,320 Speaker 3: than your opponents. It's one of the most inclusive sports 105 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:26,040 Speaker 3: available and it's played with athletes with a variety of disabilities. 106 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,279 Speaker 3: So I play in the BC three classification, which is 107 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,919 Speaker 3: the athletes who have the most significant impairments. So I 108 00:05:32,000 --> 00:05:34,600 Speaker 3: can't throw the ball far enof onto the court, so 109 00:05:34,640 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 3: I use a ramp and have a ramp operator that 110 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 3: helps me play the game, whereas some of the other 111 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 3: classifications are for people with disabilities that are able to 112 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:43,839 Speaker 3: throw the balls onto sports. 113 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 2: It's quite an incredible sport. I absolutely love watching it 114 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 2: and I think that element of it being so inclusive. 115 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:53,640 Speaker 2: Do you know the origins of it? Like, who actually 116 00:05:53,680 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 2: came up with a sport that was so inclusive? No? 117 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:58,960 Speaker 3: I don't know too much about the history of it, 118 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 3: to be honest, but I know it's been in the 119 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,760 Speaker 3: Paralympics for a long time, and you know the history 120 00:06:04,800 --> 00:06:08,839 Speaker 3: in terms of Australia with you know, the players competing 121 00:06:08,880 --> 00:06:11,360 Speaker 3: in the Sydney two thousand Olympics. It's been a while. 122 00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:13,400 Speaker 3: It's been around for a while in Australia now, which 123 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 3: is pretty cool, and I think it's finally getting to 124 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 3: that really competitive level. So do we excarting to see 125 00:06:18,480 --> 00:06:19,400 Speaker 3: what happens in Paris? 126 00:06:19,839 --> 00:06:22,960 Speaker 2: What does your training look like ahead of such a 127 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:25,120 Speaker 2: huge event like the Paralympics. 128 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, so at the moment, training as hard as I can. 129 00:06:28,160 --> 00:06:31,839 Speaker 3: Basically are pretty much four days full time a week 130 00:06:31,920 --> 00:06:35,440 Speaker 3: with my teammate Dan and coach Ken who luckily we 131 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 3: all live in Sydney so we're able to train together 132 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 3: all the time. But yeah, plenty of training. I've also 133 00:06:41,600 --> 00:06:43,360 Speaker 3: got a competition coming up in a few weeks just 134 00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:45,880 Speaker 3: before Paris by Want, so that'll be good as well. 135 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:49,080 Speaker 2: And in terms of the training itself, like what does 136 00:06:49,120 --> 00:06:53,320 Speaker 2: your process look like to actually be the best player 137 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:53,760 Speaker 2: you can be? 138 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,919 Speaker 3: Yeah, So I guess there's kind of two main things 139 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:01,760 Speaker 3: that we do in Botcher for training. The first thing 140 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 3: is obviously the strategy behind the sport. It's a very 141 00:07:04,920 --> 00:07:08,960 Speaker 3: strategic sport, so we spend many many hours playing against 142 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:12,240 Speaker 3: each other and simulating games and things and looking at 143 00:07:12,400 --> 00:07:14,960 Speaker 3: old videos and old games and kind of analyzing that. 144 00:07:15,080 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 3: But very lucky to have a good team meeting dand 145 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:18,880 Speaker 3: that we're able to train together and get some good 146 00:07:18,880 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 3: competition to get against each other every week. But then 147 00:07:22,960 --> 00:07:24,960 Speaker 3: also on the other side of things, a botch of 148 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,679 Speaker 3: balls are kind of range from a very soft, almost 149 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:32,320 Speaker 3: beanbag like texture to a very hard, almost like a 150 00:07:32,360 --> 00:07:35,040 Speaker 3: lawn bowl, So you can pick whatever balls you have 151 00:07:35,080 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 3: in your set, but because of the kind of consistency 152 00:07:38,200 --> 00:07:41,200 Speaker 3: of them, they're never perfectly round, so especially for us, 153 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:44,400 Speaker 3: as BC three athletes, we have to roll the balls 154 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 3: down the ramp and try and figure out what position 155 00:07:47,400 --> 00:07:48,760 Speaker 3: we need to put the ball on the ramp to 156 00:07:48,760 --> 00:07:51,720 Speaker 3: make it go straight. And that takes many, many hours 157 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 3: and many frustrations of trying to get that to work. 158 00:07:54,600 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 2: So you have multiple different types of balls, do you 159 00:07:58,120 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 2: have to use each of them? 160 00:08:01,360 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 3: Yeah? So you play with six balls after a game 161 00:08:04,240 --> 00:08:07,040 Speaker 3: and yeah, like I said, they range from super soft 162 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,960 Speaker 3: to super hard, and you've got to use all six 163 00:08:10,040 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 3: in an end, but you can pick what what you 164 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:14,720 Speaker 3: use means. So use a soft the ball to kind 165 00:08:14,720 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 3: of get onto the jack and then use a harder 166 00:08:16,360 --> 00:08:17,120 Speaker 3: ball to knock the way. 167 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:21,360 Speaker 2: There's definitely a lot of strategy involved in this, isn't there? 168 00:08:21,880 --> 00:08:25,040 Speaker 3: Oh? Absolutely? I mean spend hours. I think one of 169 00:08:25,080 --> 00:08:28,280 Speaker 3: the most important things about the training is just reviewing 170 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 3: games and your competitors and as much video analysis. 171 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,400 Speaker 2: Again, really, what is that process like being in an 172 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,679 Speaker 2: athlete in a sport that's so strategic because I think 173 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,760 Speaker 2: as an athlete, right, you're always striving to be better, 174 00:08:41,800 --> 00:08:44,200 Speaker 2: like there's never any ceiling that you put on yourself. 175 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:47,040 Speaker 2: But I think in something where there's so many different 176 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:49,600 Speaker 2: alternatives you're contemplating, like the different types of balls, when 177 00:08:49,640 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 2: you're going to play them, how you're going to play them, Like, 178 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 2: how does it feel to I guess that sense of 179 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 2: never wanting to stop getting better. I don't know if 180 00:08:57,200 --> 00:08:59,120 Speaker 2: that question makes sense, but you get what I'm saying. 181 00:08:59,760 --> 00:09:02,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I mean I'm training as hard as 182 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 3: I can at the moment, but you'd never know when 183 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,199 Speaker 3: someone's going to come out with a new strategy or 184 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,320 Speaker 3: a new technique. And even though Botcher has been around 185 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:14,400 Speaker 3: for a while, it's constantly changing. The rules are constantly changing, 186 00:09:14,400 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 3: the way people play constantly changing, so you never know 187 00:09:17,200 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 3: what's around the corner, really, and I'm sure this time 188 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:21,439 Speaker 3: of the year leading into Paris, people are going to 189 00:09:21,440 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 3: be trying all new things. So just got to wait 190 00:09:23,440 --> 00:09:24,559 Speaker 3: and see and kind of a duct to it. 191 00:09:26,160 --> 00:09:29,400 Speaker 2: Can you give us a look into your hometown of 192 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:31,480 Speaker 2: dunny Doo. Can you paint the picture for people who 193 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:32,440 Speaker 2: haven't been there before. 194 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:36,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, So, dunny Doo is a small town in central 195 00:09:36,320 --> 00:09:38,400 Speaker 3: west New South Wales, about an hour east of Duble 196 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:42,160 Speaker 3: and got about seven hundred people in it. It's typicult 197 00:09:42,200 --> 00:09:45,920 Speaker 3: country town. It's got a great community, but yeah, it's 198 00:09:45,960 --> 00:09:48,720 Speaker 3: pretty small, it's got a good cafe, it's got a 199 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:52,560 Speaker 3: decent pub, got a mirror of Winks and Hugh Bowman, 200 00:09:52,640 --> 00:09:54,800 Speaker 3: who's the jockey from Dunne Doo on the silo as 201 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:57,439 Speaker 3: you drive through town. So yeah, it's a great place. 202 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:01,520 Speaker 3: I've lived there for twenty years my life, and they've 203 00:10:01,559 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 3: been They've played a massive role in getting me to 204 00:10:04,120 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 3: grow up. Today. 205 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 2: You talked about that mural, but there's actually now a 206 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:12,079 Speaker 2: mural of you in your hometown of Duney. Do tell 207 00:10:12,120 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 2: us about the mural, but what did it feel like 208 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:16,559 Speaker 2: to have that painted of you. 209 00:10:17,920 --> 00:10:20,720 Speaker 3: It was a massive shock, to be honest, and I've 210 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:23,840 Speaker 3: only been home the once since it got revealed, so 211 00:10:24,640 --> 00:10:26,160 Speaker 3: you know, it was a big surprise to me. I 212 00:10:26,200 --> 00:10:28,200 Speaker 3: had no idea about it and no idea that it 213 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 3: was happening, so when it did happen, it took a 214 00:10:30,880 --> 00:10:33,760 Speaker 3: solid few days for me to really process and see it. 215 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:36,720 Speaker 3: As you know, grabbing through town and just across the 216 00:10:36,800 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 3: road from Hughes mural is something that I really value, 217 00:10:41,120 --> 00:10:42,679 Speaker 3: you know, not only growing up in the town and 218 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:45,600 Speaker 3: being from a town that I'm proud of, but you know, 219 00:10:45,720 --> 00:10:47,800 Speaker 3: just to be able to represent people with disabilities in 220 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,199 Speaker 3: a town where there are not many people with disabilities, 221 00:10:50,240 --> 00:10:52,240 Speaker 3: and to show the kids in the town now that 222 00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 3: we'll grow up and see that we'll it's not a great. 223 00:10:54,679 --> 00:10:58,079 Speaker 2: Special it's yeah, it's such a beautiful mural. How does 224 00:10:58,080 --> 00:11:00,440 Speaker 2: that process work? Did you know that it was going 225 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:02,520 Speaker 2: to be there? Or did you just rock up and 226 00:11:02,559 --> 00:11:05,040 Speaker 2: then it was revealed to you? 227 00:11:05,080 --> 00:11:09,240 Speaker 3: No, so I had no idea about it. My mum 228 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 3: tried so very hard to keep it a secret, and 229 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:14,320 Speaker 3: she did a very good job of that. But I 230 00:11:14,400 --> 00:11:16,719 Speaker 3: was lucky because I was actually overseas for the two 231 00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:19,839 Speaker 3: weeks beforehead of it all happening, so it was bit 232 00:11:19,920 --> 00:11:22,120 Speaker 3: easier to keep it a secret. But the day or 233 00:11:22,160 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 3: two that I was in town before it got revealed 234 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:27,720 Speaker 3: to me was very stressful time for sure. So yeah, 235 00:11:27,720 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 3: it was. It was such a lovely day when I 236 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:31,160 Speaker 3: got revealed. All my family and friends were there, so 237 00:11:31,200 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 3: it was it was very cool special. 238 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:36,400 Speaker 2: That's really really special. How did it feel being a 239 00:11:36,440 --> 00:11:38,720 Speaker 2: girl from dunny Do who went to compete at the 240 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:43,120 Speaker 2: Paralympics in Tokyo to be on the world stage. 241 00:11:44,360 --> 00:11:49,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, it was. Tokyo was a special one for me 242 00:11:49,679 --> 00:11:52,640 Speaker 3: and it was definitely something that I didn't really expect 243 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:54,240 Speaker 3: to go to to be honest, and I'd only been 244 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,240 Speaker 3: in the sport for three years and still being and 245 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 3: going to dunne Doo Central School and doing my Year 246 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,120 Speaker 3: twelve and my AJC in the same year. It was 247 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 3: it was very strange, you know, going to the Paralympics 248 00:12:05,800 --> 00:12:08,280 Speaker 3: and representing Australia and then just a few months later 249 00:12:08,320 --> 00:12:10,959 Speaker 3: going back to the small town of Donneo and finishing 250 00:12:11,000 --> 00:12:13,760 Speaker 3: off my schooling was it was something pretty cool. But yeah, 251 00:12:13,840 --> 00:12:16,200 Speaker 3: the whole town, my school have always been a great 252 00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 3: support in that journey. You know, I started and you 253 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 3: know I wouldn't have found Botchr if I wasn't at 254 00:12:21,559 --> 00:12:25,240 Speaker 3: dunne Doo Central School. So you know, having their support 255 00:12:25,280 --> 00:12:28,320 Speaker 3: from the beginning and you know them sending me cards 256 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:31,000 Speaker 3: and all sorts of support letters when I was in 257 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:34,199 Speaker 3: Tokyo was something that you know I appreciated. And then 258 00:12:34,280 --> 00:12:37,480 Speaker 3: heading home and you know, people asking and it's you know, 259 00:12:37,679 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 3: asking how the experience was was something pretty cool. 260 00:12:41,240 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 2: It's yeah, it's just amazing. What does it mean to 261 00:12:43,800 --> 00:12:46,520 Speaker 2: you to represent your country on the world stage. 262 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 3: Oh, it's again, it's it's it's something that I still 263 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:56,280 Speaker 3: doesn't really feel real to me, to be honest, especially 264 00:12:56,280 --> 00:12:58,760 Speaker 3: at times. Leading it to now in the Paralympics and 265 00:12:59,000 --> 00:13:02,280 Speaker 3: especially Paris, we've had quite a bit of success in 266 00:13:02,320 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 3: the past few years, so I think we've been able 267 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:06,960 Speaker 3: to get the word of Botcher around a bit more, 268 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 3: which is something that I'm really passionate about, especially because 269 00:13:10,520 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 3: growing up I didn't have access to the sport, so 270 00:13:13,559 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 3: I'm really passionate about getting more people to know about 271 00:13:16,360 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 3: the sports. So hopefully, you know, once I do come 272 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:21,440 Speaker 3: around to retirement that it'll be an easier job for 273 00:13:21,480 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 3: me to be able to get more people into the 274 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:27,480 Speaker 3: sport and get participation up because it's something that watch. 275 00:13:27,520 --> 00:13:29,400 Speaker 3: It is, like I said, one of the most inclusive 276 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:33,320 Speaker 3: sports and basically anyone can play, so it's very cool 277 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:36,000 Speaker 3: in that sense. But yeah, I'm just so excited to 278 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:39,120 Speaker 3: get to Paris and be able to hopefully have Bocher 279 00:13:39,160 --> 00:13:41,720 Speaker 3: on the screens at home in Australia. 280 00:13:41,880 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 2: Can you give us a glimpse into what it's like 281 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:47,120 Speaker 2: trying to access sport in a regional town, because I 282 00:13:47,160 --> 00:13:49,400 Speaker 2: think there's obviously a lot more that can be done 283 00:13:49,400 --> 00:13:52,000 Speaker 2: with people with disabilities and access to sport in general, 284 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:55,000 Speaker 2: but I think having that regional and remote layer adds 285 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:57,280 Speaker 2: even further barriers to that. 286 00:13:58,360 --> 00:14:00,959 Speaker 3: Absolutely, yeah, I think it was It was the biggest 287 00:14:00,960 --> 00:14:04,040 Speaker 3: barrier that I had. I think being regional had more 288 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:08,680 Speaker 3: of a barrier than my disability to sports for me. 289 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 3: I think it's just that the fact that there's there 290 00:14:12,960 --> 00:14:16,280 Speaker 3: is no para sports in particular Botcher in the country, 291 00:14:16,320 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 3: and it's something that can be worked on for sure, 292 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:25,160 Speaker 3: But I think it's just again getting the word out 293 00:14:25,240 --> 00:14:31,480 Speaker 3: is something that needs to be done. Really Watcher is 294 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 3: you know, it's such a good sport and then there's 295 00:14:34,280 --> 00:14:37,680 Speaker 3: no clubs anywhere in regional New South Wales, so you know, 296 00:14:38,760 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 3: even you just need two or three people to start 297 00:14:40,440 --> 00:14:43,120 Speaker 3: a club and getting the word out there and just 298 00:14:43,160 --> 00:14:45,520 Speaker 3: knowing about the sport is something something real special. 299 00:14:46,480 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely. Has there been a moment that has changed 300 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:51,880 Speaker 2: the course of your career. 301 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:58,960 Speaker 3: I always say that my turning, my piopile moment of 302 00:14:59,000 --> 00:15:02,600 Speaker 3: my career, where my career, my guess my competitive career 303 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 3: started was after the Tokyo Paralympics, which makes no sense 304 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 3: because I made the Tokyo Paralympics, but there was there 305 00:15:10,000 --> 00:15:12,480 Speaker 3: was big changes that happened in the sport after Tokyo. 306 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:17,400 Speaker 3: So for me, I didn't get as much of an 307 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:22,080 Speaker 3: opportunity to play as an individual in Bocher prior to 308 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:26,600 Speaker 3: Tokyo because there was me and my two teammates Stan 309 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,560 Speaker 3: and Spencer and the Australian team and unfortunately for a 310 00:15:29,560 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 3: lot of the time you only got to individual sorts 311 00:15:32,640 --> 00:15:37,160 Speaker 3: at events. But then after Tokyo the event split, so 312 00:15:37,520 --> 00:15:40,280 Speaker 3: from Tokyo and before it was a mixed sport, so 313 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:43,640 Speaker 3: men played women, whereas after Tokyo it then split into 314 00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:47,400 Speaker 3: male and female separate category. So that really gave me 315 00:15:47,440 --> 00:15:52,479 Speaker 3: the opportunity to guess sky rock at my progression in 316 00:15:52,040 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 3: my in my sporting career, because before then I didn't 317 00:15:55,000 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 3: really get as much of an opportunity and it was 318 00:15:57,360 --> 00:16:01,240 Speaker 3: a very controversial time for Bocher, you know, whether they 319 00:16:01,320 --> 00:16:04,160 Speaker 3: should have split the sport into the two categories, but 320 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 3: it's only positive opinion for me really it and for 321 00:16:09,720 --> 00:16:13,040 Speaker 3: me being the one playing with against the females. Now 322 00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:16,000 Speaker 3: I can I can truly see that the difference, you know, 323 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:18,000 Speaker 3: just from a few years back to now, the level 324 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 3: of competition is just so much better in the female 325 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:22,520 Speaker 3: population because of the split. 326 00:16:23,320 --> 00:16:25,480 Speaker 2: Yeah, amazing. And is that something that will carry through 327 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:26,680 Speaker 2: in the long term now. 328 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,040 Speaker 3: Yeah, I believe so. I haven't heard of any changes 329 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,240 Speaker 3: of reversing it, so hopefully it will stick. 330 00:16:33,320 --> 00:16:35,920 Speaker 2: Yeah. Do you have a favorite failure? 331 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,960 Speaker 3: Again? I think it was my failure would have been 332 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:45,400 Speaker 3: my pivotal moment in my Watcher career, which was at 333 00:16:45,400 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 3: the very very end of the Tokyo Paralympics when Dan 334 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 3: and I were playing in the pairs and it was 335 00:16:51,960 --> 00:16:54,480 Speaker 3: our last game of the day and we'd played two 336 00:16:54,480 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 3: games before, so three games as a Lord of Watcher 337 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:00,520 Speaker 3: in one day, and it was against holl And we 338 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:02,960 Speaker 3: had to we had to win that game to go 339 00:17:03,000 --> 00:17:06,960 Speaker 3: through the semi finals, and unfortunately we lost in a tiebreak. 340 00:17:07,000 --> 00:17:08,879 Speaker 3: And one of the rules we've botcher is that you 341 00:17:08,960 --> 00:17:11,840 Speaker 3: have to break the ramp, which means like move at 342 00:17:11,840 --> 00:17:14,960 Speaker 3: twenty centimeters either way so you don't cheat and line 343 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,640 Speaker 3: up the ramp on the court when you go out 344 00:17:17,640 --> 00:17:22,080 Speaker 3: look and I've got to break the ramp, which was 345 00:17:22,119 --> 00:17:25,320 Speaker 3: a very a very very big mistake of mine and 346 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:28,119 Speaker 3: something that I still regret to this day. But thankfully 347 00:17:28,359 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 3: I didn't have even though we lost that day, didn't 348 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 3: have too much of an impact on the results. But 349 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,439 Speaker 3: I think that moment in my career. Again, it was 350 00:17:35,840 --> 00:17:39,600 Speaker 3: the last end of the Tokyo Paralympics and from then on, 351 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,399 Speaker 3: you know, it was split into male and female. I 352 00:17:43,440 --> 00:17:46,320 Speaker 3: had to play all four unds of a pairs game, 353 00:17:46,359 --> 00:17:48,159 Speaker 3: whereas before I only had to play one and I 354 00:17:48,160 --> 00:17:51,000 Speaker 3: would be substituted off. So it was just one of 355 00:17:51,040 --> 00:17:53,119 Speaker 3: those It was kind of a turning point and a 356 00:17:53,200 --> 00:17:56,760 Speaker 3: moment of you know, starting fresh. And I think that's 357 00:17:57,240 --> 00:17:59,239 Speaker 3: the big learning curve I had in that game was 358 00:17:59,280 --> 00:18:02,080 Speaker 3: you know, I made a miss, but we pulled back 359 00:18:02,119 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 3: and we did our best to recover from the tie break. 360 00:18:04,280 --> 00:18:06,960 Speaker 3: Unfortunately it wasn't enough, but I think it was. It 361 00:18:07,040 --> 00:18:09,439 Speaker 3: was a big moment in my career of starting freshen 362 00:18:09,960 --> 00:18:11,960 Speaker 3: just you know, resetting. 363 00:18:12,880 --> 00:18:14,879 Speaker 2: So how does that work. So you have the ramp 364 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,359 Speaker 2: is set up and before each go you have to 365 00:18:17,400 --> 00:18:19,920 Speaker 2: move at twenty centimeters. 366 00:18:20,440 --> 00:18:25,280 Speaker 3: So basically, so you have four ends in botchup and 367 00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 3: at the end of each end there's a one minute 368 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:29,280 Speaker 3: break and you're allowed. 369 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 2: To go on court. 370 00:18:29,680 --> 00:18:31,480 Speaker 3: You coach and come on court. You can do whatever 371 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,880 Speaker 3: you want basically, and at the start of the end 372 00:18:35,640 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 3: the person that plays the jack has to move their 373 00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:40,960 Speaker 3: ramp twenty centimeters each way because they might have their 374 00:18:40,960 --> 00:18:43,240 Speaker 3: coach or someone might have wined the ramp up for 375 00:18:43,280 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 3: them to write where they want. A bit of a 376 00:18:47,119 --> 00:18:49,480 Speaker 3: silly rule in a way, but it's just one of 377 00:18:49,480 --> 00:18:50,240 Speaker 3: the rules that they have. 378 00:18:50,800 --> 00:18:54,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, yeah, okay, got yeah. What is was the goal 379 00:18:54,560 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: when you're on the plane heading over to Paris? 380 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,639 Speaker 3: Oh, I think the number one goal for me is 381 00:19:02,240 --> 00:19:05,919 Speaker 3: just to bring back a gold medal for Australia. It 382 00:19:06,000 --> 00:19:08,800 Speaker 3: sounds a bit cheesy really, but for me not at all, 383 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:12,119 Speaker 3: and for the rest of the watch a team in Australia. 384 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 3: No one's ever won a gold medal for Australia and 385 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:17,199 Speaker 3: Botcher at the Paralympics tend we did well in the 386 00:19:17,200 --> 00:19:20,480 Speaker 3: World Championships a few years back and that was again 387 00:19:20,800 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 3: a very special moment. But you know, to be able 388 00:19:23,080 --> 00:19:25,720 Speaker 3: to be the first people in history to bring a 389 00:19:25,760 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 3: gold medal pan for Bocher in Australia would be very cool. 390 00:19:28,640 --> 00:19:31,000 Speaker 3: But we'll see what happens. A silver would be good too, 391 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:32,200 Speaker 3: because they haven't won a silver. 392 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:35,240 Speaker 2: Brother, Yeah, that would be very very cool. What does 393 00:19:35,280 --> 00:19:37,200 Speaker 2: life look like for you outside of Bocher. 394 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:42,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, so not at the moment, but typically I'm studying. 395 00:19:42,320 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 3: So I study at unsw or Bachelor of Economics and 396 00:19:46,119 --> 00:19:48,359 Speaker 3: me in my third year, so I'll be finished next year. 397 00:19:48,359 --> 00:19:52,359 Speaker 3: I'm taking a break at the moment for Botcher, but 398 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 3: that takes up a lot of my time. I also 399 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:58,480 Speaker 3: am in the process of getting involved in the participation 400 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:01,159 Speaker 3: for Butcher, so I I really want to start up 401 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 3: some clubs in Sydney to get more people involved because 402 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:07,920 Speaker 3: where I live there's not really clubs available around here, 403 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 3: so I really just I'm really so passionate about getting 404 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 3: more people in the sport. So that keeps me busy 405 00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:14,359 Speaker 3: for sure. 406 00:20:14,480 --> 00:20:17,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely. When I asked you the first question to 407 00:20:17,920 --> 00:20:22,119 Speaker 2: describe yourself as a little kid, able bodied athletes would 408 00:20:22,160 --> 00:20:24,960 Speaker 2: describe whether they were naughty or disciplined or whatever, but 409 00:20:25,000 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 2: you actually said, the most obvious thing about you is 410 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:30,720 Speaker 2: your disability. What is that process like for you? That 411 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:35,000 Speaker 2: that's how you've been almost taught to describe yourself because 412 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:36,240 Speaker 2: of the way that others have seen you. 413 00:20:37,160 --> 00:20:40,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, to me, it's not even a bad thing. 414 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:44,800 Speaker 3: Like to me, my disability is obviously very obvious. I'm 415 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:49,200 Speaker 3: in a wheelchair, can't walk, and it's something that I'm 416 00:20:49,240 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 3: basically pretty much proud of. You know, I don't see 417 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:54,120 Speaker 3: it as a negative thing. And I think a lot 418 00:20:54,160 --> 00:20:58,199 Speaker 3: of people probably watching this, and some people, even with disabilities, 419 00:20:58,240 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 3: probably don't like to admit it. It is, you know, 420 00:21:01,160 --> 00:21:02,800 Speaker 3: for a lot of people, is one of the most 421 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:05,120 Speaker 3: obvious things about them and the thing that stands out. 422 00:21:05,560 --> 00:21:08,040 Speaker 3: But it has cheaped me to who I am today, 423 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:11,919 Speaker 3: and it has, you know, driven me to be the 424 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:14,440 Speaker 3: best in the things that I can do well in 425 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:15,840 Speaker 3: and the things I can control. 426 00:21:16,400 --> 00:21:20,040 Speaker 2: Yeah, amazing. Thank you so much Jamison for your time 427 00:21:20,080 --> 00:21:22,880 Speaker 2: today and best of luck in Paris. We cannot wait 428 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:25,919 Speaker 2: to cheer you on over there. Oh thanks, hello, I 429 00:21:25,920 --> 00:21:28,840 Speaker 2: appreciate it. Thanks for having me no problem at all. 430 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,200 Speaker 2: Thanks so much for listening. If you got something out 431 00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:34,679 Speaker 2: of this episode, I would absolutely love it if you 432 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:36,760 Speaker 2: could send it on to one person who you think 433 00:21:36,880 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 2: might enjoy it. Otherwise, subscribe, give us a review, and 434 00:21:40,760 --> 00:21:43,119 Speaker 2: make sure you follow us on Instagram at the Female 435 00:21:43,160 --> 00:21:46,159 Speaker 2: Athlete Project to stay up to date with podcast episodes, 436 00:21:46,280 --> 00:21:49,760 Speaker 2: merch drops, and of course news and stories about epic 437 00:21:49,800 --> 00:21:50,800 Speaker 2: female athletes.