They've got no funding or formal support, but Australia's majority-female paraclimbing team is the most successful the country has ever seen.
When Julie Postma was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a teenager, she was told she would be unable to walk by the time she turned 30.More than two decades later – at age 53 — Julie has defied expectations, recently representing Australia in an international World Cup sport climbing competition in Salt Lake City.
And, with a majority-female squad, women are leading the way, propelled by a volunteer-run climbing group for people with disabilities.With its dizzying heights and gravity-defying physicality, the adventurous sport of rock climbing may seem ill-suited to people living with a disability. "[It] was pretty difficult. It's a massive financial cost. The para-athletes are expected to be self-funded for these competitions," Sarah says.
"Getting on a climbing wall allows you to do things that you never thought you would be able to do … It's like solving a puzzle with your body."Sarah is a member of Adaptive Climbing Victoria , a grassroots group founded in 2018 to help more people with disabilities experience rock climbing, both indoors and outdoors.
Educating and working with climbing facilities so they can make space for people with disabilities to participate safely is another way the group is working to improve accessibility and inclusivity. "The official party line is that it's slated to be included at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, so that gives me a few years."