After the Paris 2024 Paralympics, Ella Sabljak told staff she wanted a break. In a male-dominated sport, they didn’t understand why.
“I had a conversation like ‘I want to take a bit of time off,’ and they’re like ‘well if you’re going to come back you need to put in a good chunk of training’,” the bronze medal-winning wheelchair rugby player said.
“I told them: ‘It’s not up to me.’
Queenslander Ella Sabljak competing at the Paris 2024 Paralympics last year.Credit: Michel Euler/AP
“I was beating around the bush a little bit on why I wanted to have time off and then just had to say it; ‘I’m starting a family, we’re going through the IVF process.’”
The 33-year-old made the comments at the announcement of a new national guide for sporting organisations to support pregnant athletes, or those planning to have children.
It comprises 19 recommendations for clubs, academies or peak bodies. These include: Creation of confidential communication pathways, increased contract stability, improved eduction and roll out of more flexible training and competition commitments for women who require them.
“I wish we had these earlier so that we could make those conversations so easy to have, and reduce that anxiety because there’s so much anxiety around starting a family anyway,” Sabljak said.
“I’m so pleased that we can pave the way here today for other women.”
Put together by the Australian Institute of Sport, the guide was the culmination of research involving about 60 athletes, organisational staff and coaches. Central Queensland University and the Queensland Academy of Sport were also involved.
Announced at QSAC – the one-time proposed central venue for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics – on Thursday morning, federal sports minister Anika Wells and Queensland minister Tim Mander were in attendance.
Now-retired Olympic canoeist Alyce Wood was cheered on by her daughter Florence at the 2024 Paris games. Credit: William Davis
Olympic canoeist Alyce Wood was also there. She had her first child after the Tokyo games, and three years later then-toddler Florence was in Paris to watch her compete on the water.
“This is massive for sport in Australia,” she said.
“I think the biggest thing is to make female athletes that want to become parents more comfortable … and seen.
“Opening up conversations, educating our sports, educating coaches and sports staff.”
Sabljak is still pregnant with her first child, and doesn’t know when she’ll be back on the rugby court.
“My condition has a fatigue element … and then adding pregnancy on top of that, my fatigue’s even worse,” she said.
“I’m doing little bits where I can, but I don’t think I’d be able to fit in my rugby chair.
“I’m just going to ride the wave and see what happens.”
Queensland Sport Minister Tim Mander said the state government is backing the recommendations, which will support Australian elite athletes in the lead up to the Brisbane games.
“It’s time that don’t have to have this difficult decision on whether I have a baby or whether I continue to have my career in sport.
“You can have both, and they need to be supported on that journey, and that’s what these recommendations and this study is all about.
“As we lead to the games of 2032, we want to make sure that we have environments that women feel safe in, and they feel like they’re well-supported and can come back bigger and stronger than ever.”
