Tyan Taylor is a relative new comer to the sport of goalball, having been introduced to playing the sport by her vision support teacher at high school.

However, it was actually years earlier than Tyan first saw goalball. Watching it as a 10-year-old, her grandmother suggested that one day Tyan could play goalball and if she put her mind to it, might even be able to compete at the Paralympic Games.

Fast forward nine years and in 2009 Tyan made her competitive debut off the back of a stellar first year at the national championships, where she was the second highest goal scorer. She was then called up to the Australian Women’s goalball team for the 2010 World Championships and has since been a regular fixture at all international events. She describes gaining a more permanent position on the team as a major personal achievement.

Nicknamed ‘little girl’ for being the smallest on the team, Tyan more than makes up for it with her loud and bubbly personality. She looks up to Paralympic swimming bronze medallist Sarah Rose and also credits APC High Performance Manager Chris Nunn for not only motivating her, but introducing her to the music of Miley Cyrus, after he played one of the pop star’s songs at a training camp.

Tyan is an avid Parramatta Eels football fan and also enjoys soccer and basketball. She describes sky diving as the most exciting thing she has done and bungee jumping as the scariest.

In the immediate future Tyan aims to represent Australia at the London 2012 Paralympic Games and beyond that would love to pursue a career as a vision support teacher.