Nine emerging Para athletes from the Victorian Institute of Sport (VIS) Para Sport Unit have arrived at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in Canberra in high spirits, ready to compete and eager to try new sports as part of Team South at the inaugural Libby Kosmala Para Futures Cup.
Amber Stelling, Blake Tonkin, Cayden Bell, Dash Gurung, Keira Warwick, Matthew Howes, Ori Drabkin, Perry McCluskey and Steve Obeid make up the VIS contingent in Team South, which combines athletes from Victoria and Tasmania.
The four-day, multi-sport event, running from Friday 2 to Monday 5 October, brings together 70 athletes aged 13 to 32, all identified through Para Sport Units established nationwide under the Australian Government-funded Para Uplift.
Matthew Howes tries boccia at the Libby Kosmala 2026 Para Futures Cup
Across 12 sports, four teams are competing for the inaugural Cup, while education and mentoring sessions with Paralympians and industry experts help athletes discover where their abilities might best be applied.
Supporting the group is Paris Paralympian Susannah Lutze. The VIS Para rower, who earlier this year set a world best time and became world champion in PR3 U23 women’s single sculls, is providing her unique perspective as an elite athlete and mentoring the next cohort of Para athletes.
After the opening day, Team South sits fourth on 50 points behind WAIS/SASI’s Team West (65), NSWIS/ACTAS Team East (80) and QAS/NTIS Team North (100). With plenty of competition still ahead, Team South are ready to dig deep and give it their all in the sports still to come.
For the nine VIS athletes, Canberra marks a first step on the pathway to the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.
To learn more about the VIS Para Sport Unit, visit vis.org.au/para-sport-unit.
To learn more about Para Uplift, visit www.ausport.gov.au/para-system-uplift
