Advancing women in parasport

Women with disabilities should not just be spectators in sport. They should be offered a platform to become active players and decision-makers who are skilled at designing systems and processes – with their own lived experiences in mind – that help make playing sport fun and hassle-free.

This is according to Alex Pasqualli, a University of Cape Town (UCT) master’s in linguistics student. Pasqualli was born with diastrophic dysplasia – a rare condition that affects the body’s cartilage and bone development. People living with diastrophic dysplasia are short in stature (they have short arms and legs) and experience early onset of pain and joint deformities which restrict movement. As a result, she uses a wheelchair.

The wheelchair rugby player and certified coach was speaking during the 10th annual Women in Sport talk, organised by UCT’s ParaSports Club. The event brought together sporting enthusiasts for an evening of thought-provoking conversations that highlighted some of the obstacles women in sport (with and without a disability) face, and how to overcome them.

“True inclusion means moving past basic physical access and giving female wheelchair athletes a vote and a voice. And the time to move from inclusion to influence is now; it’s today,” she said. “This means transitioning from being allowed into the room to holding the power to change the rules of the game.”

Basic inclusion

What does inclusion look like for women with disabilities in sport? Pasqualli said sports spaces should be made more accessible, especially for wheelchair users. This requires installing ramps at sports facilities and ensuring playing courts can accommodate the needs of people living with disabilities.

Further, she suggested including people with disabilities on sporting issues that directly affect them. These, she explained, refer to upcoming tournaments, as well as new sport policies.

“ It takes a team, a community and a shared network to be truly successful and be where you want to be.”

“Claiming your space as a [woman with a disability] means moving away from an invitation to actively taking ownership of your athletic identity. It requires a mindset shift from seeking permission to play to demanding a space to play,” she said.

Pearls of wisdom

For women with disabilities who are starting out in sport, Pasqualli had a few words of wisdom, which she drew from her own lived experience. She advised women to find their community, and to connect with athletes who can provide tips and advice on how to build a successful sporting career through various networks.

She also advised would-be athletes with disabilities to be more vocal about the barriers they face and how these affect them on a physical, emotional and psychological level. She urged them to normalise asking for help because “succeeding as a woman in sport is not a solo mission”.

“Not even the biggest athlete in the world succeeds on their own. Every elite competitor relies on a team, a coach, or a mentor. It takes a team, a community and a shared network to be truly successful and be where you want to be,” she said.

The advantages of young coaches

Lia Groenemeyer, a Western Cape girls gymnastics coach, said she always thought that coaching the sport she loved would be easy. After all, she said, securing her sporting code qualification, putting in the hard work with her athletes and fitting into the different sporting environments were the key ingredients.

But Groenemeyer spent years struggling to find her feet. She said the added responsibility of being a daughter, a sister and a student also hit her hard. And juggling these roles were not as simple as she had hoped. She also realised that people struggled to trust the new, young coach on the block.

“A lot of older coaches tend to judge your abilities strictly based on your age and years of experience. What I think many people fail to realise is that the sports world in general is constantly evolving. And having a fresh set of eyes can open new doors – not just with training, but with techniques and athlete connection,” she said.

Collaboration

Groenemeyer also touched on the immense power of collaboration in sport.

“When different generations of women work together and collaborate instead of dismissing each other, the entire sport benefits,” she said.

Commenting on a woman’s place in sport, Groenemeyer said it can be anywhere the woman chooses to lead, build and innovate. She also encouraged women to not allow their age and years of experience to prevent them from pursuing their sporting dream.

“If there’s something that I’d like to leave you with it’s this: no one needs permission from anyone to start leading. You don’t need to wait for someone to give you a platform,” she said. “If you feel that the space you are in does not align with your goals, I encourage you to build your own [space].”