Wikinews Interviews Australian wheelchair basketball player Caitlin de Wit

November 30, 2013

, Bangkok &mdash; Wikinews interviewed Caitlin de Wit, of the, known as the Gliders. The Gliders are in, , for the Asia–Oceania Zone Wheelchair Basketball Championships, which are being held at the. Wikinews caught up with her on Tuesday, before the Gliders' match against.



Where were you born?
 * Caitlin de Wit: In in.

When did you come to ?
 * Caitlin de Wit: When I was six.

And then you moved to whereabouts?
 * Caitlin de Wit: And I grew up on the Central Coast.

A I believe you had a horse riding accident?
 * Caitlin de Wit: I had a horse riding accident in.

What sort of horse riding were you doing?
 * Caitlin de Wit: I was just riding with friends. We were just like out on a ride.

And you fell off.
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yeah.

And you were at uni[versity] at the time?
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yeah, I was at and that's where I had my accident. And I went obviously to hospital for a little while and rehab and then I moved back to Wagga to finish my degree.

What was the degree in?
 * Caitlin de Wit: Equine studies. Horses.

And you played sport before then?
 * Caitlin de Wit: I ran a little bit, and I rode horses. They were my sports. And then in my first year of uni I started . That was my first team sport that I played.

So what made you take up basketball?
 * Caitlin de Wit: I suppose when I lefty hospital I was a bit bored. I wanted something to do. Keep me fit and occupied. So.

So which team did you join?
 * Caitlin de Wit: I just joined the local Wagga team.

There's a local Wagga team?
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yeah, there was. I don't know if its still there. And then I joined... and then Sarah Stewart saw me at a juniors' camp. And I joined what was then the Hills Hornets in the women's league.

So you played with the Hills Hornets.
 * Caitlin de Wit: mmm hmm

And when was that?
 * Caitlin de Wit: My first season was 2007.

Did they win the championships that year?
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yeah.

They won for a series of years straight...
 * Caitlin de Wit: They won straight up until 2011. We had one win as the Flames.

And you joined the junior Australian women's team?
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yeah, the under 25s.

And where did you go with them?
 * Caitlin de Wit: We went to Canada for the under 25 World Championships.

When was that?
 * Caitlin de Wit: 2011.

And you're still playing with the Flames in. And you played for the Gliders at the Osaka Cup?
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yep.

And that was in January this year?
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yeah. February maybe?  January-February?

And that was your first trip overseas with the senior side
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yes.

And now this is therefore your second trip with the Gliders?
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yes.

Been overseas much before then?
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yeah. Been overseas a little bit. Not with basketball.

Being from South Africa.
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yeah. My family traveled a little bit as a kid, so... yeah.

Have you played anywhere overseas with any other teams?
 * Caitlin de Wit: No.

So how are you enjoying it here in Bangkok?
 * Caitlin de Wit: Good. It's been a really great experience.

I keep worrying about whether they are going to blockade the airport when we need to get out of here.
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yeah, it should be fine.

Okay, so enjoy it!
 * Caitlin de Wit: Yeah!