UQ's secret weapon in Australia’s Paralympic campaign
By Emma Blackwood
The deafening sound of metal crashing into metal at speed echoes inside Brisbane’s Chandler Arena. Some of the world’s best wheelchair rugby players are in a 4-a-side training game, slamming with enough force to at times up-end players and their wheelchairs onto the court. On the sideline, and in her element, is Associate Professor Emma Beckman.
“This is my dream job,” she beams, motioning toward the blur of players racing up and down the hardwood.
“Seeing Para athletes at the top of their game is just the best feeling.”
The physiologist and sport scientist from The University of Queensland’s School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences is on secondment in a joint role at the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS) and Paralympics Australia (PA) as Para sport high-performance manager.
“I work with the national programs like the Australian Steelers for wheelchair rugby, and act as a liaison, in support of the QAS program,” Dr Beckman said.
“I’ve been an academic at UQ for 12 years but even before that I’d done a lot of research related to people with a disability and their engagement in sport, physical activity and exercise.
“My passion is understanding how we identify, develop and support Para athletes, particularly athletes with a high support needs.
“Being so hands-on now beautifully aligns with my research background and expertise, and hopefully that's what I can contribute – finding that next generation of Paralympians.”
Australian Steelers player Ella Sabljak, training with the QAS.
Australian Steelers player Ella Sabljak, training with the QAS.
Sports intel
The Paris Paralympics will be Dr Beckman’s third Games, after attending London and Rio as an international classifier for Para Athletics.
But this time her role will be quite different.
“I’m going over with Paralympics Australia as part of a small group of experts doing on-the-ground sport intelligence data-gathering,” Dr Beckman said.
“We’re watching everything, seeing how different countries are represented in different sports, how they do things and their dynamics.
“While you can learn a lot from sports results, from data or classification master lists downloaded from websites and potentially even watching YouTube videos of Paralympic performances, nothing beats being there.”
Dr Beckman said she’s most interested in the Para sports where Australia isn’t well-represented.
“Some events and classes we don’t even have a competitor, so we want to see what a gold medal performance in that event or class looks like,” she said.
“Which countries are competing, what are their athlete’s classifications and how many are they taking to the Games?
“Where are the gaps, where are the small fields – and how can we use that information to identify talent and have a pipeline of athletes for Brisbane 2032 and beyond?”
Getting in at the grassroots
Australia is traditionally a strong performer on the Paralympic stage, but Dr Beckman says in the last couple of Games the winner’s podium has been more elusive.
“There are a lot of reasons why that can happen, and we know to turn it around we have to be very deliberate,” she said.
“Luckily there’s been a real uptick in resources, expertise and drive in Paralympic sport to make sure Australia can start to head back up that medal tally.
“There’s huge scope for upping our representation in certain sports, as well as across athlete classifications, particularly with gaps in the more severe disabilities.”
Dr Beckman said she has a well-declared bias for athletes with high support needs.
“I want anyone with a disability to see themselves in the Paralympic Games, but that can be hard for people with moderate to severe or profound disabilities.
“Early entry into sport for them is a struggle – equipment is expensive, expertise is hard to find and even just getting to a training session can be difficult.
“There are programs like UQ’s ParaStart but grassroots participation across Para sport is an area where we need to work harder.”
The QAS wheelchair rugby team at training.
The QAS wheelchair rugby team at training.
Dr Beckman courtside.
Dr Beckman courtside.
Cameron Lane and Dr Emma Beckman with player Ella Sabljak.
Cameron Lane and Dr Emma Beckman with player Ella Sabljak.
Sports intel
The Paris Paralympics will be Dr Beckman’s third Games, after attending London and Rio as an international classifier for Para Athletics.
But this time her role will be quite different.
“I’m going over with Paralympics Australia as part of a small group of experts doing on-the-ground sport intelligence data-gathering,” Dr Beckman said.
“We’re watching everything, seeing how different countries are represented in different sports, how they do things and their dynamics.
“While you can learn a lot from sports results, from data or classification master lists downloaded from websites and potentially even watching YouTube videos of Paralympic performances, nothing beats being there.”
Dr Beckman said she’s most interested in the Para sports where Australia isn’t well-represented.
“Some events and classes we don’t even have a competitor, so we want to see what a gold medal performance in that event or class looks like,” she said.
“Which countries are competing, what are their athlete’s classifications and how many are they taking to the Games?
“Where are the gaps, where are the small fields – and how can we use that information to identify talent and have a pipeline of athletes for Brisbane 2032 and beyond?”
Dr Beckman courtside.
Getting in at the grassroots
Australia is traditionally a strong performer on the Paralympic stage, but Dr Beckman said in the last couple of Games the winner’s podium has been more elusive.
“There are a lot of reasons why that can happen, and we know to turn it around we have to be very deliberate,” she said.
“Luckily there’s been a real uptick in resources, expertise and drive in Paralympic sport to make sure Australia can start to head back up that medal tally.
“There’s huge scope for upping our representation in certain sports, as well as across athlete classifications, particularly with gaps in the more severe disabilities.”
Dr Beckman said she has a well-declared bias for athletes with high support needs.
“I want anyone with a disability to see themselves in the Paralympic Games, but that can be hard for people with moderate to severe or profound disabilities.
“Early entry into sport for them is a struggle – equipment is expensive, expertise is hard to find and even just getting to a training session can be difficult.
“There are programs like UQ’s ParaStart but grassroots participation across Para sport is an area where we need to work harder.”
Dr Beckman courtside.
Dr Beckman courtside.
Associate Professor Emma Beckman and Cameron Lane (standing) with other QAS coaching staff at training.
Associate Professor Emma Beckman and Cameron Lane (standing) with other QAS coaching staff at training.
Research reaps results
Dr Beckman said Australia’s success in Para sport was testament to industry leaders recognising the importance of research and collaboration.
“UQ is world renowned for research in Para sports, and especially our work in my area of expertise – classification,” she said.
“We’re one of only 3 International Paralympic Committee Classification Research and Development centres in the world.
“Classification informs everything in Para sport because you need to understand where an athlete fits into the system.
“Using my classification lens on talent ID and development in this role with QAS and PA has been really helpful.”
Dr Beckman works closely with coaching staff, including UQ alum Cameron Lane (Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Sciences ’14), strength and conditioning coach for the QAS wheelchair rugby program.
He said ongoing research is crucial.
“As well as sessions in the gym and on court, we do a lot of work in a lab setting, trialling different ways to test and profile our athletes,” Mr Lane said.
“We’ve done stuff around wheelchair setups, VO2 testing, some speed analysis ... we're always looking for what's going to give them the edge.”
Earlier this year, UQ and QAS agreed to jointly fund up to 8 sports-focused PhD projects, at least one with a Para-specific focus.
Chris Bond in action Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Chris Bond in action Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. Image: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
Going for gold
Three-time Paralympian and Australian Steelers captain Chris Bond is fresh from captaining The University of Queensland side to the top of the table in Round 2 of the Wheelchair Rugby National League - Brisbane Bash.
He’s known Dr Beckman since the London 2012 Paralympic Games where the Steelers won their first gold medal.
Image: Mitchell Gunn/Getty Images
“As well as in classification, the science side of things in Para sport where Emma works can mean the difference between a gold and silver medal,” Mr Bond said.
“How an athlete fits into their equipment or prosthesis is so important, like a car in Formula One – tweak a few things and suddenly they can be a bit faster or stronger.”
Mr Bond is eyeing off a third Paralympic gold medal in Paris.
“The Steelers recently regained the position of number one team in the world, so I’m confident we can do it,” he said.
“And in my opinion, this is the strongest squad we’ve ever had.”
Brisbane 2032 and beyond
Back at Chandler Arena, Emma Beckman watches as the players warm down after an intense training session.
“I can’t wait to see what our athletes will do in Paris,” she said.
“A successful Paris Paralympics for me would obviously include a gold medal in wheelchair rugby, but it would also look like a clear plan for the next Paralympic cycle and beyond.
“Taking what we learn in Paris and applying that to LA and then on to Brisbane, to make 2032 the best Games ever.
“And ultimately, to see our Para athletes performing at their best and doing what they love.”
Image: Mitchell Gunn/Getty Images
Image: Mitchell Gunn/Getty Images
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