While his classmates studied for exams, 17-year-old Jack Parry was making his debut for Australia’s national powerchair football team, the Poweroos, who claimed victory at the 2025 Asia Pacific Oceania Cup in Brisbane.
Parry, the youngest player on the team, discovered the sport at a come-and-try day when he was 10. “It’s shown me what’s possible when you’re not held back by your disability,” the Brisbane student said.
Powerchair football is a fast, four-a-side version of soccer played with specially designed electric chairs that can send the ball flying at high speed.
Teammate and veteran player Tristram Peters has been involved in the sport for more than 15 years and said mentoring new athletes like Parry was “reassuring and empowering.”
The Poweroos are self-funded, with players covering their own costs to represent Australia. Player Rebecca Evans said she spent about $10,000 to compete in the tournament but wouldn’t change it for the world. “The community in powerchair football is amazing, they’re my second family,” she said.
With the sport continuing to grow, the Australian Powerchair Football Association hopes to secure a place for powerchair football at the Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games.