For five years, Matt Brumby has competed in para-biathlon events around the world in a bid to realise his dream of representing Australia at next monthโs Milano Cortina Winter Paralympic Games.
Brumby, a 48-year-old T6 complete paraplegic, has funded his own travel to Slovenia, Finland, Italy and Canada โ and, last year, alongside teammate Taryn Dickens, finally guaranteed Australia its first spots in the event in 20 years.
Matt Brumby and his service dog, Willow, at the South Australian Sport Institute.Credit: Ben Searcy
But thereโs a catch. Brumby and Dickens had only guaranteed a spot for one Australian man and one woman โ not for themselves specifically. And since then, two other athletes โ Dave Miln and Lauren Parker โ have been recruited to the sport, meaning there are now four Australians vying for two spots. Based on recent performances, the newcomers are in pole position to win them.
Almost a decade after he narrowly missed a place on the para-triathlon team at the 2016 Rio Games, Brumbyโs ambition may hinge on bureaucracy. Paralympics Australia has petitioned the International Paralympic Committee to secure more places for Australians to travel as bipartite athletes โ reserved for those invited by the committee to ensure representation from countries with fewer athletes.
Until the teams are announced later this week, Brumby has had to train as if heโs on the plane to Milan, while knowing it could be for nothing.
โI didnโt get to go to [the Rio] Games, Iโve learnt a little bit from that. Iโm training like Iโm going, and Iโm doing everything as though Iโm a part of the team but mentally, Iโm also preparing that I might get a phone call and itโll be like, โHey Matt, we didnโt get four spots, weโre only going to be able to take two athletesโ,โ he said.
Matt Brumby is attempting to qualify for the para-biathlon event which combines cross-country skiing and target shooting.Credit: Ben Searcy
Brumbyโs journey began as a 16-year-old in Tasmania when he joined the navy and decided to become a clearance diver. While earning his diving certification, Brumby was running drills on Collaroy beach in Sydneyโs northern suburbs and fainted. He didnโt know at the time, but a pocket of fluid had formed on his spine. A day later, while riding his motorbike, Brumby lost feeling in his lower body and crashed the bike.
โI didnโt know where I was going to go or what I was going to do,โ he said. โThat was part of the start of realising that you canโt let one thing define who youโre going to be forever. Things are going to change.โ
