#19 Rewriting the Rules: Why Sport Must Be Designed for Every Ability (and Gender) with Tamsin Colley

In this inspiring episode of 4TG, we welcome Paralympian turned footballer Tamsin Colley. Tamsin's journey is a powerful testament to resilience and the fight for equality for all-ability athletes. She is actively changing the narrative around disability in sport, challenging systems, and rewriting stereotypes to show the immense potential of para-athletes.

Discover how Tamsin defied expectations, going from being in a wheelchair until age five to representing Australia at the Rio Paralympics at age 13. She shares her transition from sprinting to para-football , finding a deeper sense of community and belonging in team sport. Tamsin also discusses the systemic barriers facing all-ability athletes, advocating for true inclusion over tokenism , and the importance of representation to inspire future generations.

Key Takeaways

Challenging Exclusion: Tamsin highlights that sport hasn't always been inclusive, recounting a challenging initial experience with Little Athletics before finding an inclusive club.

The Power of Team Sport: The shift from individual running to team football provided a valued sense of belonging, collaboration, and a shared goal that track and field lacked.

Dispelling Misconceptions: Para-athletes are world-class and elite, not just "inspirational". Tamsin works to myth-bust the idea that disability means less capability.

Advocacy for Female All-Ability Sport: Only 10% of all-ability programs in Australia are for girls and women. Tamsin is addressing this by co-running the 'She Kicks' program to build confidence and skills in an all-female environment.

The Future is Inclusive: Tamsin dreams of a time when including people with disabilities isn't seen as something "extra" but is simply the norm.

Episode Highlights

Tamsin's diagnosis with ataxic cerebral palsy after brain tumor surgery at 18 months old.

Representing Australia as the youngest Paralympian on the team at age 13 for the Rio Paralympics.

The devastating, yet resilient, moment of falling 20 meters before the finish line in Rio.

The discrimination of being dismissed by three football clubs due to the "para" prefix, before finding an inclusive club.

Her passion for the Australian women's football team, the Paramatildas, and her goal of competing in the Brisbane 2032 Paralympics.

Winning the 2024 Female Football Week award.

Her coaching philosophy centered around inclusion and tailoring development to each athlete's unique abilities.

Timestamps

[00:00:37] Introducing Tamsin Colley: Paralympian turned Footballer.

[00:02:11] Tamsin’s Story: Childhood, disability, and sport.

[00:04:03] Barriers: Inclusivity and why kids with disabilities drop out of sport.

[00:05:46] From Little Athletics to the Rio Paralympics.

[00:09:44] Transitioning from Track and Field to Football.

[00:12:25] The sense of community in team sport.

[00:13:50] Facing systemic barriers and bias in sport.

[00:15:53] Myth-busting misconceptions about para-athletes.

[00:17:57] What Tamsin would change as Prime Minister for a day.

[00:18:41] The push for CP Football in Brisbane 2032.

[00:22:46] Running the 'She Kicks' program for all-ability female footballers.

[00:30:28] Advice to her 16-year-old self: Believe in your ability.

[00:34:08] What’s next: World Cup goals and studying Exercise Physiology.

🔗 Connect with Tamsin Colley

LinkedIn: Tamsin Colley 

Instagram: @tamsincolley 

Facebook: Tamsin Colley 

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