Life in the Fast Lane | Craswell to make International Debut

When Abby Craswell touches down in Paris for the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships, she will set foot on international soil for the first time. Coinciding with her Australian debut, the 18-year-old is counting down the days until she dons the green and gold alongside her sporting heroes.

Selected as a developing athlete for the championships to be held in Paris this July, the 100m T36 sprinter inked her name alongside those of her idols when punching a ticket to the first international appearance of her budding career.

“It’s so great, I’m super excited! I’m so honoured to be representing Australia at the World Championships in Paris. It’s so cool to follow in the footsteps of some amazing athletes such as Vanessa Low and Madison de Rozario and all the people before that,” Craswell said.

“Both of them are two of my idols in sport, I have followed them for so long and they are such amazing role models in how they carry themselves when participating in sport at such a high level. I have met them in person and they are such lovely women to inspire to be like.”

Studying occupational therapy and working a casual job at Rebel Sport, the polite teenager coached by her Dad (Andrew Craswell) finds herself eager to learn the ins and outs of the international stage, going from strength-to-strength on the Paralympic pathway over several years.

“Athletics Australia and Paralympics Australia have really opened up a space for us para athletes to thrive in, they have been quite supportive and encouraging. I feel like it has definitely evolved so much since I started, so many doors have opened. When I was 11, I didn’t even fathom how many opportunities there could be in the future,” Craswell said.

“It’s been a dream of mine for so long and it’s now finally starting to get in the motion and happen, it’s pretty cool.”

Competing under the T36 classification for athletes who compete standing and have balance and coordination problems affecting their whole body, Craswell has honed in on the blue riband event after a versatile junior career.

“The 100m is definitely my focus, I love running fast and I feel like the 100m is the event to do that in,” Craswell said.

“I started doing athletics when I was about 11 in 2015, I made my first Nationals in that year. I have been working towards just improving over those years and it has become a bit more serious, but at the start it was just about finding my niche and the events that I liked and thrived in.”

Acutely aware of the development opportunity ahead of her with the Paris Paralympic Games on the horizon, Craswell is quick to concede that the success of her maiden voyage will not hinge on her World Championships result – despite being poised to run faster than ever down the straight.

“I have been training hard and want to compete hard, but it’s all part of the journey. I want to take in as much as I can because it’s my first Australian team and also my first time going overseas, that in itself will be an amazing experience,” Craswell said.

“I train five or six times a week in the track, gym and pool – it’s quite a lot! I have to plan it out to the minute to make sure everything fits in, it’s a good set up with the Queensland Academy of Sport, Dad and the whole community around me.”  

The 2023 World Para Athletics Championships will take place in Paris from July 8-17, more information can be found HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 29/4/2023