<17.00 (+<2.0): Prayers to the Race Gods (and Switzerland)

Arbon, Switzerland. June 25, 2010. A day burned into my brain. It was my first ever international racing trip, one of many to Switzerland. I raced against Beat Bosch as he not only broke the world record, but broke the 17 second mark for the first time in World Para Athletics recorded history. I would be lying if I said that didn’t ignite a new fire in me… a goal that seemed simultaneously tantalisingly close, yet impossible…

Beat Bosch (centrer) and I on the podium after he broke the 100m World Record.

It feels so surreal to know that here I am approaching 15 years and 11 Swiss trips later, with my eyes set on hitting that milestone of sub-17 on that same track, one known for incredibly fast speeds and world records. I have been lucky that 2025 has started strong for me. My first race of the new year I managed an astonishing 16.79 with an illegal +3.3 tailwind. The bittersweet accomplishment weighed on my mind as I prayed to the race gods for ideal conditions to prove it wasn’t a fluke. Five races and five and a half weeks later, they gave me the mixed blessing of a 16.92 with a slightly less illegal tailwind of +2.5. Feeling a bit tormented by the universe now, I can’t adequately express to you the joy that came two weeks later… a sub-17 time, 16.89, with a completely legal +0.1 tailwind. To be honest, it took a while to sink in that it was finally real…that this accomplishment would be immoralized in the rankings, in the Australian record books. Only the eleventh world athlete to do this and the first Australian. About five minutes after the race was over, I heard my partner through tears say, “You did it!” and I finally reflected on it.

That feeling... that glorious sub-17-second surge across the 100-meter line for the first time. It was more than just a number on a stopwatch, it was a visceral wave of accomplishment, a testament to the relentless hours poured into training over all these years. You chase that feeling, that perfect blend of power and rhythm with each push, and now having hit the mark several times, you know it's within reach each race. The hunger to replicate, to refine, to push even faster throughout the rest of the season burns not unlike the scuff marks on the inside of my arms from new equipment, positions and mistakes…

And now, for the next journey of 2025, this 24 hour travel time, including two flights and three countries, takes me back to the heart of wheelchair track racing, Switzerland, a familiar yet always unpredictable stage. Each trip is a step into the unknown, a dance with the elements…I kid you not, it snowed one year… as much as with the fierce competition. Nottwil and the Para Athletics Grand Prix await as the first event, a crucible where I'll test my mettle against the very best in the T52 classification. Then, that legendary track at Arbon beckons, promising speed and the thrill of world record times at the Swiss Championships and the Daniela Jutzeler Memorial. For many wheelchair racers, these are the arenas where dreams are chased and legacies are forged. For me, I flash back to that scene… my first international competition, racing against the world record holder and sparking the passion to one day reach the sub-17-second barrier myself.

As some of you may know, a couple years ago I took on a new challenge that has been the scariest obstacle of my adult life. Not becoming quadriplegic, not becoming even more quadriplegic with a second neck break, not racing on the world stage, not even when Beat crashed into me at full speed in 2016… but, going to university! Enthused by their work within my own community, strong programs in both disability and sport and, of course, their barracking for my footy team (Go Cats!), I chose to pursue a double major degree in Disability and Inclusion and Exercise Science at Deakin University. But, the life of a student-athlete is a delicate balancing act, and even now at the start of my third year, I don’t usually feel like I’ve worked out all the kinks in this balance. The hum of university life, the demands of lectures and assessment deadlines, coursework cares not for your travel and follows you across continents…Hello 8am lectures while at the Paris Paralympic Village! Off the track, time zone shifts become another opponent to conquer, and the precious moments between training sessions, races, and travel blur into a relentless pursuit of balance (one I've yet to truly find). It's a challenge, undoubtedly, this weaving together of academic aspirations and athletic ambitions.Yet, within this challenge lies a unique strength, a resilience that has been slowly built and honed by the constant navigation of these different worlds. I’ve pushed myself to accomplishments, both physical and mental, I would have never believed possible within myself.

Each race, each training session, each late-night study session is a thread in the rich tapestry of my journey. You carry the weight of expectation, both your own and that of others, but you also carry the exhilaration of pushing your boundaries and discovering what you're truly capable of. I can’t wait to embrace the uncertainty of this year’s Swiss conditions, let the energy of international travel and world-class competition fuel me, and trust in the dedication that has brought me to where I am this year. The season is unfolding, full of promise and the potential for even greater achievements. Thank you all for being along with me for this crazy ride, I couldn’t be more thankful. Stay tuned, my friends.