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Paralympics Australia, the Nine Network and Good Shout are proud to announce the premiere of a ground-breaking documentary which offers unprecedented access behind the scenes of the Australian Steelers Wheelchair Rugby Team.
Forged In Steel takes viewers behind closed doors as the Steelers deal with raw emotions, intense competition and personal sacrifices to fight for their Paralympic dreams.
It will premiere on Nine and 9Now at 8:40pm on Monday, August 19, immediately following The Block.
Produced by Nine’s Wide World Of Sport in partnership with Paralympics Australia and Good Shout, Forged In Steel is more than just a sports documentary—it’s a powerful story of resilience, determination and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Cameron Murray said the documentary is an unmissable event for sports fans and all Australians who appreciate compelling human stories.
“This is a wonderful, captivating piece of film-making. I am so excited for Australian audiences to watch, to enjoy and to learn from the stories of our Steelers,” Murray said.
“While it certainly captures the power of Paralympic sport, what it emphasises to me most is that the Paralympic movement is about so much more than victory and defeat – it is about showcasing the best of humanity.”
Murray paid tribute to the Nine Network and Good Shout for helping to bring this ambitious production to fruition.
“We are immensely proud of our partnership with the Nine Entertainment Company and their commitment to bring Paralympic sport to more Australians than ever before,” Murray said.
“The Nine Network, particularly Alex Rolls and Brent Williams and their teams, could not have been more supportive from the very beginning, right through to when the final piece was delivered. We hope it is the first of many major documentaries we work on together.
“I also want to congratulate and thank our long-time collaborators Good Shout for the incredible work they have done on this project, which has been years in the making. The level of trust and respect it takes to be able to work with the Steelers’ athletes and staff to capture these moments should not be underestimated and is a testament to the relationships we have built.”
With access to Paralympics Australia’s archives dating back to the Steelers’ early years, the documentary focuses on their battle for redemption after the bitter disappointment of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games where they failed to win a medal for the first time since 2004.
Producers followed the team to major events across both hemispheres including the 2022 World Championships and Paralympic qualification tournaments in 2023 and 2024 where the stakes had never been higher.
Audiences will be taken inside the meeting rooms where coaches deliver life-changing news to athletes about their place on the Australian team for Paris 2024. The documentary also highlights the sport’s unique features, including its mixed-gender teams—a fact not widely known, despite Australia boasting more female athletes than most other leading nations in the sport.
Don’t miss the premiere of Forged In Steel on Nine, Monday, August 19 at 8:40 pm.
Paralympics Australia extends gratitude to every member of our Australian Wheelchair Rugby High Performance Program – athletes and staff – for the outstanding contribution they all made to the production of Forged In Steel. Thank you!
By: Tim Mannion, Paralympics Australia
Published: 15 August 2024
