Volleyball WA is delighted to introduce Natalie Horobin, a member of the VWA Sitting Volleyball team, competing at the Australian Sitting Volleyball Championships in Bendigo this weekend! Although new to the world of volleyball, Natalie’s journey in Para-sport dates back over a decade.
Natalie’s passion for Para-sports was ignited during the 2012 London Paralympic Games, where she was captivated by the remarkable athletes on her TV screen. A self-proclaimed competitive spirit and a below-knee amputee, Natalie eagerly explored various Para sports following the games, fueled by the dream of competing in future Paralympic events. Her journey began in 2013 when she attended a Para-sports day at the WA Athletics Stadium after subscribing to a Paralympics Australia mailing list.
Her natural talent and determination quickly propelled her into Para-athletics, where she excelled in shotput and discus competitions at the state level. Despite missing out on qualifying for the 2016 Rio Paralympics after years of hard work and dedication, Natalie’s passion for sports remained unwavering, driving her to explore new opportunities.
In 2024, Natalie stumbled upon a Sitting Volleyball Come and Try session organized by Volleyball WA through a Paralympics Australia newsletter. From a newcomer to the sport just months ago. Natalie wasn’t quite sure what to expect, “I think I had seen sitting volleyball on the TV watching the Paralympics once, but I was largely unfamiliar when I first gave it a go a few months back!” she explained. Natalie has swiftly progressed to represent her team at the Australian Sitting Volleyball Championships, showcasing her remarkable adaptability and talent.
As Australia gears up for the Brisbane 2032 Paralympics, the sitting volleyball pathway is gaining momentum, offering athletes like Natalie a platform to shine. Encouraging others with physical disabilities to “just give it a go!” Natalie emphasizes the camaraderie and joy she finds in the team environment, contrasting with her previous experiences in individual sports. For Natalie, “The team environment is great, there’s a lot of banter when playing and practising with teammates, which is a bit different to what I experienced in the individual sport previously. Sitting volleyball has provided an outlet for me to focus on something outside my busy schedule, I can focus purely on the sport and have fun!”
With the championship weekend on the horizon, we extend our best wishes to Natalie Horobin and eagerly anticipate her contributions to the growth of sitting volleyball in Western Australia. Natalie’s inspiring journey exemplifies the power of determination, passion, and the boundless opportunities that sports can offer individuals of all abilities.
Volleyball WA acknowledges our 2024 Sitting Volleyball team sponsors APM and Orthotic Prosthetic Solutions for their generous contributions, which supported all athletes to participate in this event. We would also like to acknowledge the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and the Inclusive Participation grant program which enabled us to run “Have a Go” sessions to find new participants for sitting volleyball.
Australian Sitting Volleyball
