For Australia’s Ruby Miller, a 17-year-old, Dassler’s dream is within reach of being fulfilled. She is about to perform on behalf of her country on one of the biggest stages ever! And she can’t wait to put on the green and gold of the Australian women’s soccer team. They’ll be competing against each other at the Deaflympics in Japan this November. But Ruby has a very big obstacle to overcome—she needs to pay for her trip herself, which all comes out to $10,000.
Currently training as a multi-disciplinary athlete, soccer is Ruby’s passion, but her commitment extends well beyond the field. She goes for a run almost every day, even on the days when there isn’t an organized practice with the team. Her dedication to the game continues to be inspired by her goal of one day wearing the green and gold for Australia.
Ruby’s mother, Ondria Miller, knows the family has a rare opportunity to balance advancing her daughter’s career and passion with the incredible cost. She explained that the family needs to support Ruby’s dreams while being realistic about how they can pay for training and travel.
“Unfortunately, we have to pay our own way to get over to Japan.” – Ruby Miller
The Financial Burden on Deaf Athletes
The funding problem for deaf athletes is much larger than Ruby’s individual case. Brian Seymour, secretary of Deaf Football Australia, who is a member of Ruby’s management team, expressed his views on the unfair treatment assigned to deaf competitors versus those who could hear.
Seymour said many members of the deaf community believe they are being unjustly penalized when it comes to sports funding. They feel like their needs are an afterthought. He made one crucial distinction—most athletes that make it on to world championship teams are guaranteed funding most of the time. This support often only arrives when their sport is supported at an elite/high-performance level.
“A lot of the deaf community, when it comes to sport and to funding, they feel like they haven’t been treated fairly.” – Brian Seymour
Seymour noted that the funding is usually provided for able-bodied athletes, and deaf athletes have a hard time with securing their own funding.
“All the money is just going to your able-bodied, your hearing person, and your Para guys.” – Brian Seymour
Training and Determination
Even with the financial challenges, Ruby still has her sights set high. When she trains, she goes absolutely hard, the level of determination and perseverance superhuman. Her training schedule is absolutely grueling. She thinks she needs to work twice as hard as a lot of her peers who aren’t in the same situation with their hearing.
“I have to really be self-driven and determined,” – Ruby Miller
Ruby’s tenacity, drive, and determination come alive as she trains for the Deaflympics. She reflects on her journey, saying, “I’ve always wanted to represent Australia at the Olympics.” Her hard work and commitment are a testament to her love for the game of soccer. It motivates the next generation of competitors who are overcoming those same obstacles.
The Broader Implications
The obstacles Ruby encountered speak to a larger problem with sports funding for deaf athletes. Tim Matthews, who teaches sports management at the University of Texas at Austin, dropped an eye-popping stat. He explained that if properly funded, athletes on world championship teams are seldom left in the position to pay their own way.
“For a majority of athletes, I’d say for those that make a world championship team, it’s unlikely they would need to fund their participation at that event if it’s a sport that’s funded at a high-performance level.” – Tim Matthews
The differences in levels of funding lead to serious questions about the fairness of support being given to male and female athletes. Many advocates are calling for a reevaluation of how resources are allocated, aiming to ensure that all athletes, regardless of their abilities or circumstances, receive fair treatment.
