"It's about people with a disability being seen" - Insightful & Inspirational Interview with Sarah Walsh

The following interview from James Constantine (Athletics NSW) & Sarah Walsh (T64 Long Jump Para-Athlete at the Tokyo Paralympic Games) can be viewed on our Athletics NSW Facebook page - see below a transcript of the interview.

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James Constantine  0:01  
Okay, ladies and gentlemen, I'm here with Sarah Walsh who has just placed seventh at the Tokyo Paralympics in the T64 Long Jump. Sarah, firstly, thank you so much for your time today. 

Sarah Walsh  0:13  
Thank you so much for having me. 

James Constantine  0:15  
My absolute pleasure! Sarah, first things first, your competition. It was a couple of days ago now. I think it must have been just a wonderful experience. Second Paralympic Games. You went to Rio won the bronze. Seventh place this time around, but a fabulous competition. Do you want to talk about the experience as a whole? 

Sarah Walsh  0:36  
Yeah, absolutely. Coming into my second Paralympics after placing sixth in Rio at my first one, I knew that I had a big jump in me. And it was just about putting it together on the day and I couldn't really put together a jump. Like I wanted to every jump have really good components, but I just couldn't seem to put it together but I'm still just super stoked and excited to be out there and competing in Paralympics. 

James Constantine  1:00  
100%. Um, the empty stadium. How'd that feel? Like visually? Of course, yeah, there's a lot of empty space. Did you feel like it was empty out there? 

Sarah Walsh  1:10  
Absolutely not. I had some of our Australian coaches and support staff in the crowd cheering me on. So it was pretty good to look up into the crowd and say people, you know who were there supporting you. It's pretty amazing to have that. But as I've been sitting back in the stands watching now you do look around the stadium and really do wonder what it would be like if it was full, because I have no doubt, it would be absolutely incredible. But there's still such an atmosphere there between the athletes who are finished competition and from all around the globe, as well as their team and support staff as well. We're just trying to make the best atmosphere that we can with what we've got. 

James Constantine  1:45  
Yeah, 100% and you just looked like you're enjoying yourself so much. Every time the cameras on you and the Channel 7 coverage, you're smiling, waving, and just looked like you're having the best time. 

Sarah Walsh  1:57  
Yeah, absolutely. I think it was just about being in the moment as well. At the end of the day, you are competing in Paralympic Games. And as much as I do want to jump big and jump really well, I also needed to enjoy being there and take each jump as a new one and not let the distance or how I jumped in the previous round before affect me. So by the time I got to the sixth and final round, and I'm finished competing at my second Paralympic Games, it was just about enjoying every minute that came after that and being in the stadium and being out on the track because I'm not going to get that opportunity again here in Tokyo, so, my second Paralympic Games, I wanted to enjoy it. 

James Constantine  2:32  
Yeah, 100% How is the camaraderie between some of your other competitors as well, there was a world record. I think it was De Jong, who won gold, just incredible results by some of your competitors, was there much chat between the athletes, between you all?

Sarah Walsh  2:46  
Yeah, definitely, I think off the track. We are quite good friends and quite close and friendly. So when we do step out onto the track, we are competitors in the air to jump as good as we can. And I think we're also supportive and proud of each other and le Fur, who placed second, it's her final Paralympic Games. She's retired and I've been competing against her since I started on the international stage. So it's pretty special moment to share that with someone who you compete against, but who is also a friend. So I guess for us, it is friendship as well as competition. 

James Constantine  3:18  
Yes. Fabulous. Speaking of friendship, you've been showing a lot of your teammates a lot of support Isis Holt last night, of course, Madi de Rozario, and Sarah Edmondson, your roommate, just amazing results across the board particularly yesterday, medals galore and you were sporting the Isis Holt roommate paper inspired by Matt Denny of course, who was supporting Brandon Starc at the Olympics. Do want to just talk us through the decision to don the support on your singlet and yeah, how that inspiration came about. 

Sarah Walsh  3:55  
I think for me, now that I'm finished competing, it is about being there and supporting not only our Australian team, but also people who are my friends outside of competition and outside of sports. So I think it's really important to sit in a stand and cheer on your friends and definitely we were inspired by Matt Denny last month and in all the hard work he put in at the Olympics, bringing the Olympic team together at the stadium that we thought we might as well channel a little bit of him and don on our Isis Holt roommate bibs, and cheer cheer her on to a silver medal. So it was absolutely amazing to be in the stadium and watch Madi win gold and Isis come home with a silver medal and I was also there in the morning to see Sarah win her bronze medal. So it was a huge day of athletics yesterday. And I'm excited to see what the rest of our team can do in the next few days. 

James Constantine  4:42  
Absolutely another huge week for Team Australia coming up. Do you want to just talk us through that the black sand. I know there was a little bit of commentary around that, quite unique. Is it a visual thing when you run down the runway and you're jumping into a completely different color sand? Have you ever actually jumped into a different color of sand before and is that sort of a little bit weird?

Sarah Walsh  5:06  
Not really, I've competed in Japan before, and the sand was quite dark back then. But it's honestly some of the softest thing that I've ever jumped into. There's been times where I've come out of a sandpit with grazes all over my arm and leg from it being pretty rough. But I have to say Japanese sand would be up there with pretty good sand to jump into. But I guess when you're running down the runway and about to jump the color of the sand and how soft or hard it's going to be is probably one of the last things I'm thinking about. And you know, the end of the day, you're going to get to the sand and just about putting out a good jump in that. But sand is definitely good quality over here. 

James Constantine  5:42  
Ah, very good to hear. That must be imported from one of the beaches in Australia. (Laughs). Maybe the Sutherland Beaches!

Sarah Walsh  5:51  
(Laughs)

James Constantine  5:51  
That's amazing, Sarah. I just want to have a chat to you, I guess, about some things, outside athletics as well. You've been so busy in so many different aspects of your life. And one that really caught my eye was the Lifeline ACT ambassadorship that you have.D o you want to talk us through, I guess, how that came about? But also the the incredibly important work that they're doing, particularly during COVID times? And yeah, just how that relationship came about what you're doing with them at the moment?

Sarah Walsh  6:21  
Yeah, absolutely. So at the end of 2019, I became the ambassador for Lifeline Canberra and the work that they were doing back then in our community was so important. And whilst I like to help break down the stigma around disability and Paralympic sport, there is also a stigma around mental health and reaching out and asking for help when you really do need to. And so it was so important to me to join an organization that wanted to help down break more barriers in our community, similar to what I was doing, with people with a disability, and now more than ever, after everything we've gone through in the past 18 months. Lifeline across the whole of Australia is experiencing more calls and more people wanting to ask for help and reaching out wanting someone to talk to you. And I think the work that they do is incredible. And I'm so proud to be a part of an organization like that, and so proud to be able to support them and help share what they do. Because at the end of the day, if I can put Lifeline's phone number out there and one person uses that someday, and it helps them in their life, that's the job done for me. The work that they're doing and the people that they've helped. It's incredible.

James Constantine  7:26  
Absolutely wonderful. So as you said, such important work that they do. Funnily enough, my Mum actually worked for Lifeline back in the day for quite a few years. So shout out to mom as well. The Australian Fashion Week Runway - that looked like a lot of fun. Correct me if I'm wrong, was it Michael Roeger and Rheed McCracken were doing some modeling as well? 

Sarah Walsh  7:49  
Yeah, so we had myself, Roegs and Rheed all took to their final show of Fashion Week this year. So a bit different to the runway that I'm normally on at the athletics track. But it was an incredible experience to be a part of a fashion show and something when I was growing up, I knew that I always wanted to be a Paralympian and represent Australia. But I'd seen that on TV and I'd seen people who had gone to the Paralympics just like me, but never once saw someone with a disability walking the catwalk at Fashion Week and to be able to pave the way for the next generation of people with a disability, to be able to do something like that and make more worlds and more organizations more inclusive, it's pretty special. 

James Constantine  8:30  
Yeah, 100% and the work that you've done with your Iconic as well, of course such a well known brand with both women and men across Australia and also Myer as well. I love that ad you did, I think it was late last year, with the the tug of war. Just, you know, beautiful imagery. And, you know, you've been quite outspoken, and rightfully so, to be a really big ambassador for women, girls and people with a disability. Overall, it's something that you obviously hold very close to your heart. Is there anything else that I guess, you know, in the future that you'd like to do to help spread that message to more Australians and people outside of Australia as well.

Sarah Walsh  9:15  
I think it's just about people with a disability being seen, whether it is playing sport, on a TV commercial, wearing clothes, that everyday people where you have to be seen, to feel seen and to be able to strive and want to do better in your life. You want someone to look up to so for me, if I can do those things and be a part of something like that, which is an incredible experience and opportunity for me, but then also help young people with a disability. See that you know what, at the end of the day, if you are missing part of your leg or have some sort of a disability, you can still get out there and do all those amazing things and have incredible goals and incredible aspirations just like anyone else. So the end of the day, people with a disability are just like everyone else and they should be included in commercials, in everyday life, and things that everyone gets to see.

James Constantine  10:05  
Absolutely 100%. So well said. I just want to go through because when I was doing a bit of research, there seems to be some really amazing stories in there just couldn't quite find out the details. One of them in particular, was when you got your first blade at age 10. I wanted to know who actually gave that to you, and how big of a difference it made in your school athletics, firstly, but then your transitioning through your junior years into the athlete that you've become today.

Sarah Walsh  10:36  
I wrote my first blade when I was 10, and I just walked into the company at the time that were making my prosthetic legs and one of those two companies that make blades. So one of them had kindly sponsored me with a blade as a 10 year old girl, and at the time, was one of the youngest people in Australia to ever get one and I knocked, like, maybe nine seconds off my 100m PB. (Laughs). Which is just ridiculous. But that's how much of a difference it made to me and made me be able to take athletics a lot more seriously and slowly start to become closer in times and distances to my able-bodied counterparts. But it definitely, if I didn't have that blade, I know I wouldn't be in this position now. Because it is super tough to be able to do athletics, especially without the right technology that you need and the right equipment that's required. So I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for those people who believed in me as a 10 year old kid, and saw some sort of potential back then because it's really paid off now. 

James Constantine  11:37  
Yeah, absolutely. Amy Winters [5x Paralympic Champion] who works for our office now, I think she mentioned that you're actually talent scouted as a junior, is that right? 

Sarah Walsh  11:46  
Yeah, absolutely. I was talent scouted probably back in 2006 or 2007, and I met Amy back then. So a lot of people saw potentially made from such a young age, and back then I had no idea what sport I wanted to do or what sport I would be good at. But I just kind of always knew that I wanted to put on the green and gold and represent Australia and I was lucky enough to find athletics and then long jump and fall in love with that sport, which is a pretty awesome experience and pretty cool to be able to travel the world and represent Australia doing that. 

James Constantine  12:17  
100%. Do you want to talk us through as well, I guess the development as a junior - is there any difference? With your development, both from mental and a physical aspect, through your high school years as a para-athlete?

Sarah Walsh  12:33  
Yeah, absolutely. I think when I was a junior, it was about me learning to become an athlete and teaching me the basics of my sport and long jump. And as I slowly progressed and got older, going to World Championships and Paralympic Games was about the experience and being there and learning how to be an elite professional athlete. And now, as I've gotten older, I can train harder train more often. And when I show up to these Paralympic Games or World Championships, it's not about coming here and just enjoying myself. It's about coming here and doing the best that I can knowing that I am one of the best athletes in the world. 

James Constantine  13:08  
Yeah, 100% and you train with a lot of other athletes who are the best in the world that respective events and classifications that I think Vanessa Low, Scott Reardon, and then some of the sprints boys - is that right ?James Turner, Chad Peris, possibly? 

Sarah Walsh  13:23  
Yeah, so they're all based out of the AIS in Canberra. I'm coached by Matt Beckenham - so he coaches Lauren Wells. And then Iryna coaches Vanessa, Scott, Chad and Jimmy [James Turner]. So we're all in the same training environment, which is pretty awesome to be surrounded by like-minded people and people who have the one common goal of wanting to be the best athlete that they can be, but just two different coaches. 

James Constantine  13:47  
Yeah, brilliant. Fantastic. And I can imagine that with so many gold medals from World Championships and Paralympics, the sessions would be, I guess, pretty world-class, I'd say.

Sarah Walsh  14:01  
Yeah, it's pretty cool to be able to watch some of the best athletes in the world at training and be able to train alongside people like that. 

James Constantine  14:09  
Yeah. 100%. For now, you're done. I think you're on a plane in two or three days time - is that right? Back to Australia? 

Sarah Walsh  14:17  
Yeah. I leave Tokyo on Thursday and then head to two weeks hotel quarantine, which will be lots of fun. 

James Constantine  14:23  
Fun times. We've just seen all the Olympians go through it. So at least you know what you're in for. I think you might be able to win a sponsor or two if you're on Instagram enough as well! (Laughs). We've seen a lot of brands getting behind our Olympians and hopefully they do the same for the Paralympians as well. So, yeah, fantastic. So for now, I guess back to the track for a couple of days of viewing? 

Sarah Walsh  14:46  
Yes, absolutely. I think my heart has settled after last night. So we'll be ready for a couple more heart attacks tonight, I think then for the next few days, but it's just so awesome to be in the stadium and to support our athletes, and see the rest of the world through do their thing. I think there's been some outstanding performances not only from us Aussies, but from athletes all around the globe. And it's been pretty incredible to be in the stadium and witnessed those. 

James Constantine  15:11  
Absolutely. I think, you know, not having worked in the sport during Rio, I guess I haven't got the best of views. But it seems like there is so much emphasis and so much support around the Paralympics and our Australian Paralympians this time round. Do you feel like that might be the case? And is that a case of social media just being five years further than Rio back when it was in 2016? Have you felt there's, I guess, more support more following this time around?

Sarah Walsh  15:44  
Yeah, absolutely. The past week since I've been here has been insane. My phone has just been nonstop, with people reaching out and supporting and it's been so appreciated, and I feel so loved and supported. But the Paralympics as a whole, this time around, I am feeling as if more people are watching and more people are tuning in, and it's probably because back home, there's not really much else to do. A lot of people are stuck in lockdown and stuck at home so they can turn on the TV and see us do our thing and be able to support us and I hope that moving forward that support continues. Paris is only three years away, and we'd love for the support and following to continue to grow and help us get further in our careers and support more Paralympians, because at the end of the day, we are just as equal to our Olympians, and we do some incredible things. So we do want people to be able to see what we do and appreciate it. 

James Constantine  16:37  
Absolutely. And I guess you know, that that leads into, you know, that sponsorship and funding piece, which is such a critical part. The Paralympics Australia donation fund is raised almost a million dollars from almost 40,000 virtual seats sold which is just incredible story. How far do those dollars go towards your sport and your future as a para-athlete. 

Sarah Walsh  17:02  
All those dollars help get every single one of us athletes here and on a plane. We don't have lots of money here in para-sports. So everyone who's fundraised and bought a seat is helping directly to support us with our dreams and put on the green and gold. So it is so vital and important. And we are so grateful to have these opportunities and to be able to do this and inspire people back home. And I think without that we wouldn't be here, we wouldn't be able to take such a big team and we wouldn't have all these athletes living their dream. 

James Constantine  17:33  
Beautiful. That link is donate.paralympic.org.au for those who haven't bought their seat yet, please do. Still plenty of time to go. Sarah, any final words for everyone back at home?

Sarah Walsh  17:46  
Keep watching the Paralympic Games and supporting us. We've still got a few more days left and lots of action to come. And we really appreciate all the love and support that we've been receiving back home and we can't thank you enough.

James Constantine  17:59  
Beautiful. Sarah, this is the first time we're meeting and we're talking like I've known you for years. You've been wonderful. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences in your stories, some very poignant ones and some very strong messages and important messages for all those who do love their athletics. Thank you so much your time and enjoy the next couple of days and we'll see you soon. 

Sarah Walsh  18:19  
Thank you so much.