By NICOLE VALICEK
SHANE Crick is a role model to any young person who thinks they’re not good enough or can’t succeed to greatness because they are different.
The 18-year-old Altona Meadows resident was selected to be on the Australia Deaflympic Basketball team and will travel to Bulgaria later this month to compete.
Shane was born deaf. His parents discovered he was deaf when he was just nine weeks old and he was fitted with a hearing aid at seven months.
But, when the umpire blows his whistle Shane will not hear it because he and his competitors are not allowed to wear hearing aids during the game.
“It’s a major adjustment compared to when I play in hearing competition. Not using our hearing aids has enabled me to use more visual sense on the court,” he said.
Shane started playing basketball when he was seven and had been involved with Deaf Basketball since 2008, aged 13 years.
He represented Australia in the Asian Pacific Deaf Games in Seoul, South Korea last year.
He was also selected to go to the 2009 Deaflympics in Taipei, with the Men’s Basketball Team, but they did not compete due to money and numbers/commitment from players.
Shane said being on the team will open many new possibilities.
“After the Deaflympics, I will be looking into applying for Gallaudet University in America. It is a Deaf University and has college sports. I hope to play basketball for that college.”
Shane is also a first-year university student, studying Exercise and Sports Science at Victoria University Footscray Park.
He acknowledged that he is a role model to others like him trying to play a sport and encouraged them to not give up.
“I’m a role model to many young children in the deaf community who want to be involved with sports, especially basketball.”
“Don’t give up on your dreams. Aim for something that you believe you can achieve and never give up or push away any opportunity that has been given to you.”
Shane will leave for Bulgaria on 20 July. The Deaflympics will be held from the 25 July to 4 August.
