ARTICLE - Macarthur Chronicle

Narellan basketballer Sam Cartledge to play in Australian deaf men's basketball team

28th Feb 12 @12.02pm by Tahnae Goldsworthy

Macarthur Chronicile

TEENAGER Sam Cartledge has never let anything stand in his way and has vowed to follow his dream to compete in the 2013 Deaf Olympics.

Cartledge, 18, of Narellan, who was profoundly deaf until he was two, has secured sponsorship with Cochlear Ltd so he can compete in the seventh Asia-Pacific Deaf Games in May, with the Goannas, the Australian men’s national deaf basketball team.

The game plan is to perform well at the South Korea games, which will lead to qualification for the Deaf Olympic Games next year. “I think we’ve got a good chance,” Cartledge said. “We just need to focus on our training.”

Off the court, the young athlete has overcome many obstacles already, saying without his cochlear implant at the age of two he would have been forced to live in a world of silence.

He served as Broughton Anglican College’s school captain last year and he has started a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture at the University of Canberra.

Cartledge, who began playing the sport as a year 5 student at school, said without the support of Cochlear Ltd, which will cover travel and accommodation costs around Australia and to South Korea, he would not be able to compete.

“It feels amazing (to have their support),” he said. “They’ve given me a chance.” The young basketballer said he was dedicated to working hard to achieve his ambition.




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