Illawarra Academy of Sport's accessible gym space to improve opportunities for and awareness of para-athletes

An accessible gym space fitted with specialised equipment aims to provide greater training and performance opportunities for para-athletes in the Illawarra while also increasing awareness and participation in para-sports.

The Illawarra Academy of Sport has officially opened the new facility within the University of Wollongong’s Sports Hub to allow para-athletes to train with modified, competition standard equipment to help optimise their performance on the big stage.

For para-powerlifter Dylan Braan, the inclusion of a wider para-powerlifting bench with the option of a strap could make a significant impact on performance outcomes, especially because he is required to bench press four days a week as part of his training.

“If you want to lift big weights the technique comes first and then the stability comes second,” Dylan said.

“On a normal bench, with the stability movement, I wobble a lot but being on a para-power bench my stability is better.”

The 26-year-old has only been participating in the sport for around two years and trains with Australia’s head coach Simon Bergner.

“I went to a physical therapist and they had a bench there and I wanted to learn how to do it and they taught me the basics and I got a bit stronger,” Dylan said.

“Then the Illawarra Academy of Sport contacted Simon about it and the rest is history.

“I thought I’d just try it out and see how I like it and now I’m an athlete.”

Simon said Dylan had shown great progression in the sport and had a lot of potential and that access to that type of equipment was important for helping para-athletes, like Dylan, to reach their peak.

“It makes a huge difference for athletes to be able to use competition specific equipment; that’s vital for anyone trying to go from even a beginner to an intermediate to a high-performance level,” Simon said.

“Using the right equipment makes a world of difference.”

The gym is set to be utilised by a strong cohort of up-and-coming para-athletes in the region.

To prepare for triathlons, 15-year-old Jack Gibson trains every day of the week, often fitting in two sessions around school.

But, as with any elite sportsperson, his focus is not only on the amount of training, but also the type of training required to meet his needs and improve performance.

“I swim four times a week, ride three times a week and run two times a week and then I’ve got to fit in gym session, so I come here twice a week,” Jack said.

“I’ve got a condition called CMT which affects my legs and hands, so I’ve got to change up my training so I don’t overburn that or get injured.”

His hard work has already yielded impressive achievements such as claiming gold at the 2024 Australian Parachamps Triathlon in Wollongong and winning the IAS Brett Stibners Award for Para-athlete of the year multiple times.

And there’s the opportunity for even more success for Jack on the horizon.

“Brisbane 2032 is the main goal; LA – you never know, I might get there but my short-term goal is just to race Worlds,” he said.

“When I turn 16, I’m eligible to go to Worlds so let’s see if I can get on that Australian team.”

Twelve-year-old Eddie Clare, who is thriving in swimming and athletics also has high hopes of making the Paralympics and said the facilities and training provided by the academy were helping him work towards that goal.

“It’s really good because IAS provides everything I need to be a better athlete,” Eddie said.

But another important factor in his success has been his family and friends and the community among para-athletes.

“They’re really supportive and when I’m doing my swimming and athletics they always cheer me on,” Eddie said.

“It feels really good because I can race other people with different disabilities and it’s a great community and they always support me.”

As well as helping our current para-athletes, the new equipment is hoped to raise awareness and encourage more people to get involved.

“I think it inspires para-athletes around the Illawarra region to actually come to the gym – one to get their strength up but also to improve their mental health,” Jack said.

“I think this will open up the space for para-athletes to try some sports and definitely encourage them.

“More awareness is critical; more accessible facilities is also very important and providing environments like what we’ve got here to say, ‘Hey, there’s an opportunity to come here and train and use our facility which suits your needs to be the best para-athlete you can be,'” Simon said.

“But I think coaching is also a big one; we need more coaches saying, ‘I want to be involved in parasport; how do I get involved; who do I get mentored by or what does that look like moving forward.”

The new equipment was made possible by funding raised through the Great Illawarra Walk in 2022 and 2023.

The annual event has seen the community walk to raise more than $1.2 million for important community initiatives since 2008 and the charity event will return on 8 March, with the 40-kilometre walk raising money for KidsWish.

Registrations are open for the 2025 Great Illawarra Walk.

For more information about the Illawarra Academy of Sport athletes, programs and facilities visit the IAS website.