Shelley Chaplin

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
London 2012 Paralympic Silver Medalist
Beijing 2008 Paralympic Bronze Medalist
Athens 2004 Paralympic Silver Medalist

BIOGRAPHY

For almost 17 years Shelley dedicated her life to being one of the best wheelchair basketballers in the world. Shelley was first introduced to wheelchair sports at the age of 12 and made her first senior Australian team when she was just 17. 

Shelley’s first taste of international competition at the World Championships in 2002 was just the beginning and two years later she was one of the youngest players selected for the Athens 2004 Paralympic Women’s Wheelchair Basketball Team. This team went on to win a silver medal. Not being satisfied with second best in the world Shelley sought out an opportunity to play in the United States college division and was awarded a full-ride scholarship to the University of Illinois. Throughout her five years at the University of Illinois Shelley won three National Championships, was runner-up twice and was the National MVP in 2008.

After completing her degree in Recreation, Sport and Tourism Shelley returned to Australia to captain the Australian women’s wheelchair basketball team, the Gliders. 

Throughout her sporting career Shelley had a number of jobs along the way including sports coordinator, TV production assistant, travel associate and office administrator before turning to the corporate world of insurance where she is pursing a career as Executive Assistant. Shelley is also an associate for Get Skilled Access and is passionate about representation in the workforce. 

Having competed in five World Championships and three Paralympic Games Shelley was just three games shy of playing 250 games for Australia when she retired from the sport, with the news that she and her husband Kieran were pregnant with their first child, Ruby.

Navigating motherhood from a wheelchair gives Shelley a unique perspective on life, she speaks to living with a disability, life after sport, changes in identity as well as incorporating a rich history of elite level sport 

EXPERIENCE
Australian National Team 2001 - Present Paralympic Games London, 2012 – Silver Medal Beijing, 2008 – Bronze Medal Athens, 2004 – Silver Medal World Championships Birmingham, 2010 – 4th place Amsterdam, 2006 – 4th place Kitakyushu, 2002 – Bronze University of Illinois 2005-2010 National Champions 2005/2006 – 2nd All American Team National Champions 2006/2007 – All American Team National Champions 2007/2008 – All American Team & MVP Runners-up 2008/2009 – All American Team Runners-up 2009/2010 – All American Team Basketball Victoria National Champions 2001 – All Star 5 & MVP National Champions 2011 – All Star 5 & MVP National Champions 2012 – All Star 5 Handcycling National Champion TT H4 Women National Champion RR H4 Women