If Australia’s wheelchair basketball team is to end a 12-year wait for a Paralympic medal, then teenage whizz Eithen Leard might be the Rollers’ secret weapon.
Leard will make his Paralympic debut in Paris on Thursday (local time) when the Rollers face the Netherlands in the first of three pool games.
The 18-year-old has a natural confidence that belies his age and that should stand the Rollers in good stead, especially ahead of a mouth-watering pool stage match-up with reigning gold medallists USA.
Fighting above his weight is nothing new for Leard, the Queenslander having honed his skills by pitting himself against full-grown men from a young age.
“I went to my first under-23 nationals as an eight-year-old and my first Rollers camp at 14,” Leard told AAP.
“There were always concerns for my safety, being so small at that time I had to be cautious playing against adults.
“Grown men don’t take it easy but by no means was that a bad thing.
“I’ll forever be appreciative of the people who I used to get annoyed at for beating up on me because that’s got me to where I am today.”
Born with a spinal cord deformity, Leard found wheelchair basketball was his way of letting off steam.
“My dad was always really good at making sure I had some sort of ring set up to go and shoot whenever I wanted,” Leard said.
“Some people play instruments to deal with anxiety or stress or anything like that, but my thing was getting some buckets to relax.
“I was not easy on myself, there were so many times I should’ve come inside but I wanted to keep going.”
It’s that dedication which has paved Leard’s path to Paris, which has already earned him a professional deal in Italy which he will take up after the Paralympics.
If his sharp-shooting prowess isn’t enough, Leard’s mullet will certainly make him a standout as the Rollers go in hunt of a medal.
“I have a birthmark on the back of my neck, which sounds really silly but I just wanted to cover that up.
“So I grew my mullet out and then I really liked it.
"As I’ve got older my hair has got curlier and it’s started to become part of my personality and my mates got around it.
"I’ll definitely get a picture, hopefully with a gold medal.
"If we win it, it depends on how rowdy the last night gets if I’ll keep it.”
