For Leanne Del Toso, basketball comes naturally. The proud Melbournian played able-bodied basketball throughout her childhood before suffering from a neurological condition that reduced mobility in her legs. She was forced to give basketball away at the age of 19 after she was unable to run and jump.

Wheelchair basketball was the vehicle through which Leanne was able to return to the sport. She was working at a local gym and noticed a flyer on the wall about a Paralympic Talent Search day and the rest is history.

While she narrowly missed a place on the Beijing Paralympic team, Leanne played for the Gliders for the first time at the 2009 Osaka Cup. She experienced instant success with Australia winning gold, turning a seven-point half-time deficit into victory against Japan in the final. Leanne was again part of the victorious Australian team at the 2010 Osaka Cup. In the same year, she played at her first World Championships where Australia finished fourth and in 2012 won a silver medal at the London Paralympics after losing the gold medal match to Germany.

Leanne plays for the Dandenong Rangers in the WNWBL. She supports Collingwood in the AFL and relishes the chance to make the trip to her beach house in Rye. Qualified in the field of sports administration, Leanne currently works at Basketball Victoria. She loves the outdoors and it would not surprise to catch Leanne fishing, travelling or eating out. She also enjoys the chance to visit her relatives in Italy.

Following her experience in London, Leanne embarked on a charity cycle around Fiji with good friend and team mate, Shelley Chaplin. In preparation for the epic ride, Leanne raced in the Para-cycling Road National Championships where she finished runner up in both the time trial and road race.