At just 19 years old, Brayden Foxley-Conolly is preparing to board a flight to Paris, where he will proudly represent Australia in the Wheelchair Rugby team. Incredibly, he is the youngest member of his team by a decade. We sat down to talk to him ahead of the Paralympics to learn more about his remarkable journey at such a young age.
When Brayden was 22 months old, he contracted meningococcal disease and clinically died for one minute. The lack of oxygen to his brain caused an acute brain injury (ABI), and the disease led to him losing his right hand, left thumb, left leg at the knee, and a few toes on his right foot. The heavy medication also took a toll on his young body, deteriorating some of his molars.
It was a heavy feat for a 22-month-old. But as Brayden tells me this, he has a surprising smile and a light-hearted tone; it’s almost as if he's reciting items on a grocery list.
"Obviously, I don't remember any of this because I was a baby, so it is just what I hear down the grapevine from my mum," says Brayden candidly.
Brayden grew up in the regional town of Mackay in North Queensland with just himself and his mum. He described himself as a shy kid who struggled in school.
"I was so shy as a kid that I barely even spoke to my mum, not about any of the heavy stuff, at least. It would just cause everything to bottle up," says Brayden.
And it was by chance that Brayden joined sports.
One day, Mackay Basketball Coach and disability advocate Peter Sumpter approached 10-year-old Brayden at the Mackay PCYC and encouraged him to try wheelchair basketball. However, Brayden was hesitant. He was struggling with school at the time and was not interested in putting himself out there.
“I was training some other athletes at the time and saw Brayden looking a bit lost—I think it was at after-school care. He was very shy and quiet, so I approached him to see if we would want to play basketball,” says Peter.
Despite not wanting to join the team, his mum persisted and, as Brayden describes it, forced him into training.
"I really didn't want to go to the training, but mum just made me. She kept taking me back, basically forcing me into it, and I eventually fell in love with it."
Peter describes the early days as a bit of a push-and-pull.
Brayden excelled in Wheelchair Basketball. When he was 16, he competed in the Thailand Under 22 Championships under Peter's guidance. However, it was also at this time that another development squad was starting to recognise his sporting achievements.
"[At the time], the Wheelchair Rugby Development Squad asked me to join the team, so from there, I transitioned into rugby while also playing basketball. Both are pretty contact-heavy sports, so it was hard for my body to do both," reflects Brayden.
Therefore, he could only choose one. So, he pursued rugby, and his career began.
"My first rugby competition was on the Gold Coast with all of the Australian players. They recognised my skills here, so then I travelled to Japan for the junior development camp. Here, I received the best High Pointer Award and got into a few camps with The Steelers [Australia's best team]."
“In 2023, I went to Paris with the Steelers for the International World Cup for Rugby, and we won! It was great to prove ourselves as the team to beat on the world stage.”
"Then, at the start of 2024, we competed at the Canada Cup. Here, this competition is a bit different; you want to hold your cards closer to your chest, not reveal your whole game plan, as this is who you will be versing at the Olympics. So you don't want them to study you," says Brayden.
“It is a rough sport, but there is so much more strategy, rules, and plays behind it than I think people realise.”
When speaking with Peter about Brayden’s playing style, he can only describe him as entertaining.
Throughout our conversation, Brayden remains incredibly humble. You can tell he feels bashful when you recognise his achievements, but it is hard to tell his story without acknowledging his accolades and how far he has come.
He was at a camp in Melbourne when he learned he had made the Paralympic team, but it hasn't quite sunk in yet.
“I am not a big feelings guy, so I think it will all hit me when I finally get to Paris and am there,” says Brayden.
The team will consist of his Steelers teammates, and Brayden, at 19, will be the youngest.
“I am the youngest on the team by a long way. The rest of the team are in their late 20s and late 30s, but they have been really welcoming and helping me on my journey. It is nice to know that I have a long career ahead of me.”
Of course, like many sports, there is a hidden cost that many spectators do not fully comprehend. For Brayden, he is only able to participate in these sports through programs like the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and the Aussie Athlete Fund.
The NDIS plays a crucial role in Brayden's athletic journey by covering the costs of his sports wheelchair, which amounts to approximately AUD$15,000. This is not a one-time expense either; given the intensity of the sport, his wheelchair needs to be replaced about every two years or so. And to ensure it remains in top condition, it requires ongoing maintenance and cleaning around every two weeks. This level of upkeep is essential for Brayden's performance.
On another front, the Aussie Athlete Fund works to connect athletes to sponsorship opportunities and provide invaluable education. Through the etrainu platform, the Aussie Athlete Fund hosts educational resources that empower athletes like Brayden to acquire skills in self-fundraising. This approach not only helps with immediate financial needs but also equips athletes with knowledge and strategies for sustainable financial management throughout their careers.
But at the end of the day, Brayden still credits a lot of his success to his mum’s selflessness and sacrifices.
"My mum is definitely my biggest role model. She moved down to Brisbane with me two years ago to give me more sporting opportunities. She quit her job and left all of her close friends so that I could chase my dreams."
To wrap up our conversation, I asked Brayden what advice he would give aspiring athletes. He had a risk-versus-reward mentality.
etrainu is proud to sponsor Brayden Foxley-Conolly in the 2024 Paris Paralympics.
Go for gold, Brayden!
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