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Earlier this year, when meeting with doctors to discuss ongoing dislocations of his foot and related complications, Cameron Jones got straight to the point.
“I just told them I wanted the foot off”, he said.
“I waited a few months for the surgery and then I was in hospital just for three days. They wanted me in for a week but I don’t really like hospitals.”
The surgery was on March 9. Barely three weeks later the 17-year-old was at a Paralympics Australia Multi-Sport Day, where he tested his new abilities and discovered two sports he loved – one of which he has good reason to believe he can pursue to Paralympic level.
Jones is a powerful example of what can happen at Multi-Sport Day events delivered by Paralympics Australia. The nationwide program brings people together in a supportive environment to try out various Para-sports under expert guidance from elite coaches and Paralympic athletes.
The program is a key pillar in Paralympics Australia’s goal to increase involvement in sport among the 20 percent of Australians who live with an impairment.
People of all abilities and ages are welcome at Multi-Sport Days. Occasionally, athletes with remarkable potential are discovered, such as Jones, who attended the South Australia event on April 2.
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Paralympics Australia’s Participation and Pathways Coordinator (SA) Jon Henschke said: “A lot of the participants may never have tried boccia or Para-archery or wheelchair tennis, but they leave with a better understanding of how the sports are played, they can ask questions and then decide if it’s something they’d like to pursue, which we can help with as well.
“Cam had played soccer in his childhood but after his operation he opened up to other sports and opportunities. It’s amazing to see how far he’s come in the past couple of months.”
Jones enjoyed trying out wheelchair basketball. However, his talent in canoeing drew attention.
“When I tried the [canoe] ergometer they were very keen. They invited me to a try-out day on the water at West Lakes, so I went out to that,” he said.
Jones’ potential was clear and he signed up for the Canoe Sprint National Championships, where he won a gold medal in the Mixed Para 500m and silver in the Mixed Para 200m. The results were achieved just nine weeks after the surgery to amputate his foot.
“I’m still doing wheelchair basketball and I’m now in the SA development team,” he said. “But my biggest goal is, if not the Paris 2024 Paralympics, then to get to the 2028 Games in canoe.
“I just love sport and I feel like I’ve gone somewhat back to normal now.”
Want to get involved in Para-sport? See our upcoming Multi-Sport events.
By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Posted: 26 July 2022
