Need some inspiration? Meet Liesl Tesch

Did you play competitive sport before your accident?

I played every sport possible – I was a very active person, so much so that I rode my push bike wherever I went. After the accident, during my rehabilitation I was introduced to wheelchair basketball and when I first saw the activity on that court I knew I had to be involved.

Obviously the accident has changed your life entirely, is the path you have taken since your accident very different to the path you envisaged taking?

So different and so much better! I was studying teaching when I had the accident and was particularly interested in geography as I love travel. Playing professional sport has allowed me to travel the world. I have been to over 50 countries and lived in Europe for 5 years.

I have also been able to make a real difference in getting facilities set up and networks provided for disabled women in third world countries – an opportunity to make a difference that I would never have dreamed possible prior to my accident.

Obviously you have the support of Wheelchair Sports NSW here in Australia, but you are only one woman, how have you managed “on your own”?

Having a disability is kind of like having an extended family. I have spent a lot of time training and see my team mates more than I see some of my family. It is also true that we can’t choose our family members, there are people of my disabled family that I would not choose to be in my family but we accept and support each other.

I have also done a lot of work with disabled people all over the world. Women in Tibet with whom I share no language commonality have lifted their skirts to show me their prostheses and we have formed friendships based on mutual understanding and respect .

What is it like as a woman to play in a male dominated sport? Especially given the fact that you have actually played in men’s teams in Europe?

Unfortunately funding issues mean that there are a lot of countries that do not have wheelchair basketball for women. I played with men and had to learn to be a man about it! There was one particular incident in Eastern Africa where a man actually grabbed my breast during the game. Incidents like that teach you to be more determined and play harder – and boy did he get it from me and my team mates!!!

Have you seen anything in your travels that has really touched or inspired you?

I have done a lot of work in Bosnia where so many women have been hit by shrapnel in their own homes. Unlike Australia there were no facilities and no support structures. There were women in wheelchairs living down the road from each other and they did not even know the others existed. I was able to create networks and set up lift schemes so these women could get together and talk, train and play. That was an inspiring time for me and really helped me to be so grateful for my country of origin.

You must feel really lucky to be Australian when you see the conditions in other countries – no female teams and in many countries no opportunities at all.

Absolutely – If I was in another country and had my accident I could be dead, so really you have to celebrate that you are alive

You are so positive about your situation and the opportunities you have been given. Are there any actual advantages to being in a wheelchair?

Oh yes – you get to go to the front of the line at Disneyland, you get the closest parking spots, you sit in the front of the plane and you hardly ever have to queue for public toilets. But obviously there are so many obstacles. Going to my first match and seeing the able bodied girls gliding through the air like ballerinas on the court next to me was really difficult.

You are a high school teacher. Are the children in your class respectful of the fact that you are teaching from a wheelchair?

I love my job and the kids I teach, the biggest problem I encounter with the wheelchair is that they all want a ride!

Most women find buying clothes a challenge. What is it like trying to buy clothes when you are wheelchair bound?

I hate shopping. In fact the other day I found a top I liked and I bought that top in 6 different colours. The change rooms can be tricky to get into but if I know that I am going shopping I will just wear a singlet and then try on clothes over my singlet in the shop

Working full time, training and being an elite athlete – how on earth do you fit in the housework and a social life?

This year I am not playing for Australia so have not had as much training time as previously and now I look back and wonder how on earth I have managed in the past. I am now going to use my training time to make up for all the social time I missed. Housework can be tricky. Vacuuming in a wheelchair is hardly an easy task! Next time you complain about vacuuming the house try to do it sitting down.

You sound like a superwoman to many of us that have not had so many obstacles placed in our way. If you could indeed have any superpower what would it be?

Flying or maybe even teleporting. I played for Wollongong when I came back to visit Australia (while living in Europe) and I would love to play with them again but that distance makes it impossible. If I could teleport I could work during the week at a job I love and still play for Wollongong!

If you spilt the contents of your bag what would we see?

This morning was a super organised morning as I have to see the doctor about my legs today so I have split my bag into three – a going out bag, a work bag and walking bag. I can walk with the aid of “dollys” keeping my legs straight but then I cannot have extra weight so the bag needs to have the bare minimum in it. But usually my bag has all the normal stuff – wallet and phone plus some rocks and stones (I am a geography teacher after all) and some glitter – I like to add some sparkle to my day and to my face.

We talk on MM about ‘smug’ and ‘crap’ moments. What do you feel most smug about in your life? What do you feel most crap about?

Smug: Getting to Mt Everest Base Camp in Tibet.

Crap: 4 class sets of exams to mark. ERK! (Although once I have started them its OK!).