When Julie Postma was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis as a teenager, she was told she could not walk when she turned 30.
Julie is part of the Australian national parachuting team. (Provided by: Tara Davidson)
More than two decades later, at the age of 53, Julie has met expectations, recently representing Australia in an international World Cup sport climbing competition in Salt Lake City.
“When I was diagnosed, it was,‘ You have a disability, you just have to go sit in a box ’and the world ignores you,” Julie says.
“So this has been about going back and doing those things that I never got a chance to do when I was younger.
“I was excited. I definitely climbed the best I could.”
After joining climbing as a fun form of physiotherapy a few years ago, Julie is now a member of Australia’s national parachuting team.
Despite not having formal funding or support, the team is the most successful team the country has ever seen.
And with a predominantly female staff, the women lead the way, driven by a volunteer-led climbing group for people with disabilities.
Australia has won its first climbing medal at the World Cup
With its dizzying heights and gravity-challenging physique, the adventurous sport of rock climbing may seem unsuitable for people living with a disability.
Melbourne scientist and knee amputee Sarah Larcombe has recently shown how wrong this is.
Sarah Larcombe says it was a “crazy feeling” to win Australia’s first World Cup medal in the sport. (ABC News: Kyle Harley)
In her debut in international competition alongside Julie in May, Sarah won her first Australian World Cup medal and, in the end, was a gold medalist.
“I was physically shaking my nerves,” says the 34-year-old.
“They had the Australian flag on a TV screen. They played the anthem and everything. It was a crazy feeling.”
The victory came after almost two years of intense physical training and months of fundraising.
Sarah says climbing is “like solving a puzzle with your body.” (Supplied)
“[It] it was quite difficult. It is a huge economic cost. Paragliders are expected to be self-funded for these competitions, “says Sarah.
“Being disabled is expensive in itself. We have a lot of extra expenses that I think most people shouldn’t have to deal with.”
Despite having to resort to a credit card to get there, Sarah says the sacrifices have been worth it.
“Climbing feels so liberating, especially having a disability and feeling confined within one’s own body,” he says.
“Climbing a climbing wall allows you to do things you never thought you could do … It’s like solving a puzzle with your body.”
Adaptive Climbing Victoria organizes events that welcome everyone to enjoy the sport of climbing. (Provided by: Yvette Harrison)
Sarah is a member of Adaptive Climbing Victoria (ACV), a grassroots group founded in 2018 to help more people with disabilities experience rock climbing, both indoors and outdoors.
The mantra of the organization is that everyone, no matter their ability, can climb.
Araminta “Minty” McLennan, who was born with cerebral palsy, says rock climbing, by its very nature, is an adaptive sport because there is no “right” way to climb.
Araminta McLennan says the adaptability of climbing helps make it an inclusive sport. (ABC News: Zalika Rizmal)
“No matter how you get to the top, as long as you get to the top, people are happy,” Minty says.
“And if you have a disability, it doesn’t define you. It may define your way of climbing … but it doesn’t define you.”
Minty says LCA’s mission is to transform perceptions and attitudes toward disability.
“It’s adjusting the attitudes of ourselves and the climbing community in general to help make more room for people with disabilities,” he says.
Adaptive Climbing Victoria is based on the philosophy that everyone can climb if it becomes accessible. (Provided by: Yvette Harrison)
The group conducts events and programs for people with disabilities in outdoor climbing gyms and cliffs, with a team of volunteers adapting the climbing assembly to the needs of the individual climber, using specialized equipment and a helping hand.
Educating and working with climbing facilities so that they can make room for people with disabilities to participate safely is another way the group is working to improve accessibility and inclusion.
“Not just to make the people who are climbing feel safe, but also to make the place feel safe, making it easier,” Minty says.
The members of the group have competed worldwide. (Provided by: Daniel Gajda)
After discovering that climbing was a perfect way to take advantage of his “comic upper body strength,” Minty says the benefits went far beyond the physical, giving him a sense of belonging and place in a welcoming community.
“I often say that climbing is the friendliest cult you’ll ever join … it becomes fundamental to the fabric of your life in so many ways,” he says.
“It had such an amazing impact on my life. I just want to be able to share it.”
Paralympic dreams on the horizon
Like Sarah and Julie, Minty is part of the national paragliding team. He is preparing to fly to Europe for his first World Cup next week.
His big dream, however, is the Paralympic Games.
“It’s definitely my big, hairy bold goal,” says the 28-year-old.
“The official line of the match is that it is scheduled to be included in the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, so that gives me a few years.”
Araminta McLennan (left) and Sarah Larcombe look forward to seeing more parachute athletes emerge in Australia. (ABC News: Kyle Harley)
While Sarah says she may be a little too old in 2028, she hopes her success will help raise awareness about the fledgling sport of paragliding and inspire other young girls living with a disability to dream big.
“Growing up … there wasn’t much visibility or representation of athletes with disabilities, or just people with disabilities in general, in the media at the time,” Sarah says.
“It would have meant a lot to me, as a child, to have seen someone there [who] he looked like me. “
Julie has been sidelined for the rest of this year’s international competitions by a COVID-19 attack, but the mother of two is hoping to reach next year’s world championships.
“Having a degenerative, progressive condition can be difficult because, in your heart, you know it’s only going in one direction … a gradual decline over an extended period of time,” says Julie.
Julie Postma hopes to continue competing as she perfects her climbing skills. (Supplied)
While last year his MS progression has made him now use a wheelchair most of the time, his climbing has continued to improve.
“Having something I’ve been able to work on, and keep improving and doing better, even though my body gets worse every year, has been very enjoyable.”
Julie’s advice to anyone, regardless of age or disability, is to just do it: “Don’t let people tell you ‘No’ or ‘You can’t,’ if you really want to, do it. . “