Record Number of Women in Steelers Paris Team
Australia's wheelchair rugby team for the Paris Paralympics has been named, with three women named in the squad.
JULY 10, 2024.
When the number one ranked Aussie Steelers Wheelchair Rugby team take to the court in Paris, it will be with a record three women in the green and gold after the Paralympics squad was announced today in Melbourne.
Shae Graham, a veteran of 82 matches for the national team, was the first woman to represent the Steelers and the lone female representative in Tokyo. She returns for a second Paralympics in Paris. Shae told HER WAY in 2022 that she only took up the sport in the first place after losing a dare to her brother.
Also back for a second Games but in a new sport is Ella Sabljak. Just days after helping the Australia 3X3 Wheelchair Basketball team win silver at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022, Ella stayed in Europe and played some games with the Steelers as she started transitioning from scoring baskets to tries. A World Cup and 26 national games later, Ella is a Paralympian for a second time.
It’s a Paralympics debut for Emilie Miller, who after winning World Championships in Para Cycling, will finally make her Paralympics debut. Emilie said at the team announcement,
“I’m not sure what to expect but I’m really grateful to be able to lean on our experienced players, which is helping with our preparation and keeping me on track for what I need to do.
For me, competing in wheelchair rugby is a really great equaliser of disability. Being involved in wheelchair rugby, it really focuses on the things you can do and it flips that notion of disability on its head where it’s all focused on the things that you can’t do and the challenges you face in your life. When we’re playing rugby it’s about your strengths, what can you do for the team, what role can you play? It’s empowering to have that focus on what I can do and what I can achieve.”
The Steelers will face defending Olympic champions Great Britain, hosts France and Denmark in the group stage in Paris.
Image: Shae, Ella and Emilie at the 2022 World Cup. Credit: Paralympics Australia