Darwin’s wheelchair basketballers inspire next generation of athletes

ABC NEWS (Australia)

For professional wheelchair basketball players CJ McCarthy-Grogan and Tom O’Neill Thorne, getting to the top of their game meant leaving their hometown of Darwin at a young age. When the pandemic brought them both back home, they were eager to give back to the community, and show the next generation that those opportunities can now be found in their own backyard.

Transcript

00:00 I think up until we actually joined Salty's, I think we played more games against each

00:09 other than with each other.

00:10 We both grew up here in Darwin.

00:13 CEDA is actually the reason I got into Wujibar School.

00:15 Probably been like 10-15 years since we'd actually played together.

00:19 You know, we're good mates.

00:20 I don't think we, either of us probably expected things to go the way they did.

00:24 It's been pretty awesome.

00:25 In 2007, the Australian Rollers came up to Darwin and played on this court.

00:35 And for a 10-year-old kid and a 15-year-old kid to see that level changed our lives.

00:41 A couple of kids looking up to these guys and then a few years later we're training

00:45 beside them.

00:46 You know, we're probably different to 90% of the world where COVID gave us an opportunity

00:54 to come home and there was the talk of the Salty's.

00:56 Darwin Salty's happening with the able-bodied teams and we thought why couldn't we bring

01:00 that with the wheelchair teams as well.

01:02 The Darwin Salty's joined the National League in 2022.

01:06 Tom and CJ did a lot of community activities, a lot of engagement here, which sort of prompted

01:12 us to put in that team and for them to finally be able to represent Darwin on a national

01:17 level.

01:18 It's all about having that opportunity there and showing that they've got options.

01:21 And if you do have those higher goals, then they are possible even if you're from a small

01:26 town like Darwin.

01:27 (laughs)

01:29 [BLANK_AUDIO]

Category

Transcript

Recommended