In the lead-up to a second Paralympics in Paris, the Aussie queen of boccia shares her hopes for these Games and what she thinks of Hireup.
Jamieson Leeson is the first to admit that she has a competitive streak. “I’m always striving to do well in whatever I do,” the 21-year-old says with a grin.
She believes that growing up with two siblings who "played heaps of sports" provided the ideal environment to fuel her ambitions. However, Jamieson didn’t think sport was for her… until she discovered boccia.
Jamieson was first introduced to boccia at an open day. A few years later, her potential was recognised by a Boccia NSW representative at a school competition.
“I [was] a bit hesitant, knowing that there's not much in the country, in regards to boccia. I knew it was going to be hard for me to really get involved,” she recalls.
“When I was young, I just thought it was rolling balls around, but I learned how complex the sport is. It’s not as easy as it looks. That really caught my eye and made me more determined to do well in it.”
Fast forward seven years, and Jamieson is now the world number one in boccia pairs and a top contender for the 2024 Paralympics.
“Paris will be completely different. Being able to play and represent Australia is very special. It'll be a different experience being my second time [at a Paralympics]. I’m looking forward to it.”
“There are challenges, especially in Paris, because I’ve never played in front of a big crowd. In Tokyo, it was pretty much empty except for a few school kids. But I've played against countries like Brazil and Portugal, who are very passionate about the sport, and they know how to be pretty loud, so I think I'll be okay with it. I'm excited to see how it goes.”
Her story is so unique, especially since boccia has no Olympic equivalent.
So, what is boccia?
Boccia is a game of accuracy similar to lawn bowls. Competing in wheelchairs, athletes can throw, kick, or roll a ball depending on their disability.
Jamieson uses a ramp and has a ramp operator. Without looking at the court, her operator must move the ramp based solely on verbal instructions given by Jamieson.
While Jamieson’s on court life keeps her busy, she also has a packed schedule outside of training. She is studying economics at university and has moved to Sydney from her hometown of Dunedoo.
“Living here has made my life so much easier.”
“With my busy lifestyle, it does require a bit of flexibility. I think with Hireup, having the flexibility to pick my own support workers, hours, and being able to communicate directly with them is something that I really appreciate.”
Even though she’s left the central western town, it now proudly features a huge mural of her, rallying behind the girl from Dunedoo.
“It’s very surreal.”
“It's good to have that support in the community, and being on the main street with Dunedoo on the Golden Highway, it’s very cool.”
“To have people driving through the town and knowing that disabled people can play sports, and come from the country, and that I'm a female. So, I can go against all the odds and do whatever I want.”
Trusting the process
For Jamieson, being a Paralympian is about more than just medals or representing Australia – as amazing as that is. She hopes to create a space where other people with disabilities are empowered and given the opportunity to achieve their dreams, in anything they aspire to do.
“Whether it’s getting to the Paralympics or moving to an independent living place, they’re all long journeys.”
“My biggest piece of advice would be to get as much support as you can, and ask family, friends, and people who have lived experiences. That’s something I did a lot of and it really helped me through the process.”
“Be determined and never give up, because it’s a long process.”