feature Jamie Stewart feature Jamie Stewart

and he is my inspiration in the sport as we have identical injuries. “I would also like to thank Tom Kyle for coaching me in my team, Living the dream of the Spinning Bullets. “Most of all I would like to thank my mum (Lisa) for supporting me in my efforts to pursue a career playing wheelchair in Europe. “I really would not have been able to do this without her support and it being paid to play has been the best experience of my player Jamie Stewart is living the dream and playing life so far. “I am also very proud that Mum has professional sports overseas, with Hyeres on the south coast of France developed the Rollerblaze organisa- tion on the Gold Coast and has given IT IS one of those boyhood dreams euro boys: Jamie, front left, with his team, who compete in the French so many people with disabilities the opportunity to participate in this great that is on the same wavelength as National League, The French Cup and the Euro Cup. Pic: Supplied being a firefighter or police officer – sport that I love so much.” this possible,” he said. “It’s actually ball,” Jamie said. “To think that some When Jamie’s tenure with Hyeres playing professional sport for a living. a bit disappointing that companies able-bodied sports have trouble secur- ends in June, he will come home to For Spinal Injuries Association mem- in are not more involved in ing sponsorship, I am still amazed that plan what to do next. There may be ber Jamie Stewart, this is his current wheelchair sports.” so many countries in Europe (mainly the option of returning to Hyeres reality as he finishes up a contract Missing the support of his family Germany, Turkey, France, Spain and for the 2013-14 season if they invite playing professional wheelchair bas- and friends and being away from his Italy), are able to pay players from all Jamie back, which he said he would ketball for a team in France. dog Bella are the things that Jamie around the world, and their local play- love to do. The 31-year-old has spent the past finds the hardest when he’s playing ers, to play wheelchair basketball.” If that does not eventuate, then he several months playing for a local overseas, however, the adventures Jamie said three key people were will update his profile on the Interna- team called Hyeres and is being paid and opportunities that the experiences responsible for getting him where he tional Wheelchair Basketball Federa- for the terrific experience. provide more than make up for any is today with wheelchair basketball. tion website and put the feelers out He is living with two of his American homesickness. “I would like to thank Tige Simmons to play for another team in Europe. team mates in a very old, very beauti- “Every now and then when I am (another Spinal Injuries Association After his stints in Germany and ful French villa a short distance from talking to friends back home I have member), for getting me involved with France, Jamie said that Spain would the basketball stadium where he trains to pinch myself when I say that I am the sport. Tige has been to two Para- be a great place for his next adven- in the town of Hyeres, which is on the being paid to play wheelchair basket- lympics playing wheelchair basketball ture. south coast of France about an hour east of Marseille. To say that his current lifestyle is a change from his usual day-to-day ac- tivities at his home on the Gold Coast is quite an understatement. A typical day for Jamie in Hyeres involves rising at 11am for training; at the gym and then basketball training at 8pm. Since the beginning of the season, allez hyeres: Jamie Stewart, centre, playing for his team Hyeres, which is Jamie’s team has only lost two games out of 15. based on the south coast of France. Pic: Supplied As a first-division player for Hyeres, When he’s on Australian soil, Jamie to tell me about the Spinning Bullets the team competes in the French is also part of the Queensland Spin- team in Brisbane. National League, the French Cup ning Bullets wheelchair basketball “The thing I enjoy most about bas- (made up of the top four teams in team and for the past four years he ketball is that it’s a sport that I loved France), and the Euro Cup, which is has also trained with the Australian before my accident, and as a whole also another avenue for the top teams Men’s Development Squad at the Aus- the game is exciting, very physical and in Europe to compete. tralian Institute of Sport in . a great game for spectators to watch Jamie was delighted to play in the He was also part of the commit- too. Euro Cup in early March in Rome with tee that founded the local Gold Coast “Some people even want to get in the team winning two of their four wheelchair basketball team, Roller- a wheelchair and give it a try even games. With the cost of flights around blaze, in 2008. though they don’t have a disability!” $50 from Italy to France, he added “Wheelchair basketball has been a Given Europe’s age, Jamie said a few extra days of recreational time huge part of my life for the past five accessibility was not great, however, into that trip with a couple of team years,” Jamie said. it was worth the compromise of the mates and saw the wondrous sites of “After I sustained high-level paraple- extra challenges of getting around Rome. Because of their wins, the team gia in a car accident in 2001, I wasn’t because of the beauty and history of now progresses to the second round sure I’d ever be able to play sport the countries that he had seen. of the Euro Cup, to be held in another again. When I discovered wheelchair In Jamie’s experience, community Italian city, Giulianova, in the coming basketball, I quickly began to enjoy attitudes in Europe towards people weeks. the competitiveness and social aspect with disabilities are generally positive. This is not Jamie’s first stint over- of the game.” “The team I am with now spend seas playing wheelchair basketball Jamie said his only regret was that more than 100,000 euro each season – from September 2011 until May he did not begin playing the sport towards costs like paying players, 2012 he played for a team called the sooner. travel expenses, court hire, rent etc. Immovesta Trier Dolphins in Germany “It would have been great if some- The team manager works very hard in Division 1. one had approached me in hospital at securing sponsors that make all of

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