Over two decades at the top of the game, Tristan Knowles has seen it all.
The Australian legend has been to the summit at the Paralympics, (gold at Beijing 2008, silver at 2004 Athens & 2012 London), and he starred in the team that went back-to-back at the IWBF World Championships in 2010 and 2014.
Knowles will add a new level to his incredible career in Paris by leading the Rollers as captain into a record-tying sixth Paralympic tournament to join Brad Ness with the record alongside Shaun Norris.
You could make a case that the Wollongong-based athlete should be on the 2024 team purely based on his experience. But the greatness of Knowles doesn’t work that way. The game that he loves keeps on giving. And he’s determined to keep giving back.
“There’s been times over the last ten years where I’ve maybe questioned why I’m still playing or if I’m having an impact, but to be honest I’m more excited now than ever. I can’t wait to see what happens for us in Paris,” said Knowles
“This has hands down been the best period of preparation that I’ve been a part of with the Rollers. I can't recall a time where we were playing at such a high level in the lead to a Paralympics tournament. I’ve been stoked to be a part of this next chapter and be around."
"Obviously that’s meant I’ve had to be methodical with my preparation, and even though I’m 41, I feel fitter and stronger than I’ve ever been.”
Time has seemingly flown for Knowles, who after decades of playing at the highest level, recalls a formative process of resilience beginning in childhood.
As a footy-mad kid born in Wodonga, Victoria, Knowles looks back on a time where he had to overcome cancer and come to terms the loss of his childhood dream.
“I was always a sporty kid, I’ve always loved sport, and I was obsessed with the idea that one day I would be playing AFL for Hawthorn and lead them to a Premiership,” said Knowles.
“But at the age of nine I was diagnosed with bone cancer. It's a pretty strange thing at age nine to be told that you've got bone cancer and that you're going to have to start chemotherapy. And I was also told that I would need to have my left leg amputated above the knee.”
“I went through a relapse, where the cancer returned in my lung. You know, the chances of surviving that are around 10%. It was a really tough time. So, I sort of learned some tough, but valuable lessons as a kid.”
“It helped me understand that life is precious. And I also learned that I was probably a lot stronger and tougher than I ever thought I could be. I changed as a person. I evolved into a resilient person because I was forced to overcome that.”
Overcoming adversity was one part of the puzzle for Knowles. Reforming aspirations for the future was the second.
“Even getting past cancer, I felt hollow inside. Because there was this massive void from losing that dream of one day playing AFL footy, so I had to go in search of a new love,” said Knowles
“It wasn't until I was 15 that I crossed paths with wheelchair basketball at a come-and-try disabled sports meet in in Canberra. I fell in love with the sport, on the spot. I loved the team aspect the most, that's what really drew it to me. But also, it was fast, it was physical, and things happen in 360 degrees around you.”
“Pretty quickly I began to form ideas around what I hoped to achieve in the sport. One was playing for my country. And the other was becoming as good at the game as I possibly could."
“Not in my wildest dreams did I think that my life would turn out how it has from that moment when I was 15 years old,” added Knowles.
The talent and potential of Knowles was identified early on. After a strong showing at a Rollers camp in 2000, the four-pointer jumped at a shift to Wollongong with an opportunity to realise his dreams.
“I was round the age of 17 when I was invited to that senior men’s camp. I had my exit meetings, and they sort of said, if you're prepared to make all the sacrifices and make the right choices over the next three years, then we think you're a chance of making the Athens team,” said Knowles.
“So that was when I decided to finish up year 12 and move to Wollongong so I could start training with the Wollongong Roller Hawks. I spent the next three years either training or with my head in books at university. They were the two things that consumed all my time, and I wanted to do well at whatever came my way.”
Dedication was rewarded in 2004. With a Rollers program on the rebound, Knowles got the call-up alongside long time teammate Shaun Norris for a historic Athens campaign.
“I’m thankful that I scraped into the team at 21 years old for Athens. We came agonisingly close to going all the way and it was that silver medal that ignited a fire in me and the rest of that team to work out what we needed to do to go one further,” said Knowles.
“I still spend a lot of time thinking about how important mindset was to achieving success and the gold medal in Beijing. The Head Coach at the time Ben Ettridge got us to spend time being mindful of our process and headspace leading into that Paralympic tournament.”
“There was an element in harnessing the concept of becoming hunter opposed to being the hunted and that created a real ruthlessness within the group. We just wanted to get our hands on teams and tear them apart.”
“We weren’t there to make friends and we didn’t apologise for that. We found the real danger came from being at the top and inviting complacency and we realised there was a danger in thinking about ourselves as the best in the world.”
“We made a deliberate effort to continue and maintain the mindset of being the hunter, because of the hunger that it injects into you. It’s proven to be a valuable exercise because the results speak for themselves. We went on to back-to-back World Champions after overcoming a big step back in London where we went in as favourites and slipped out of the final.”
Paris brings a new chapter for Knowles in the role of player but also as a leader. There’s a custodial substance in the way the veteran speaks to his role amongst the current Rollers group.
“I reinforce with the younger guys that the position that we’re in is rare. You don’t go into every Paralympic tournament with a genuine shot at a podium finish, so we have a rare opportunity,” said Knowles.
“Every day and every choice you make counts. Everything you do matters, because this opportunity isn’t guaranteed to come around again. It’s exciting that the young guys are resonating with that. We’ve got six first-timers, so you can't just overlay a blueprint that worked 16 years ago and say this is what will lead us to success."
"That’s where Brad Ness has been important. He’s really about the group creating their own identity.”
Tristan Knowles acknowledges former team-mate turned coach Brad Ness, who will attend his first Paralympic tournament on the sidelines. The former Roller champion has proven to be an influential figure in the evolution.
“I think the playing style and the position that we're in as a team is an absolute testament to Brad Ness. He's been able to get 12 guys to buy into a style that can match it with the best in the world and we've seen the evidence in the preparation period,” said Knowles.
“The results that we've then been able to achieve this year in knocking off the 1st and 3rd ranked teams in the world. We’ve been able to achieve playing the way that Brad wants us to play and that is in understanding that this style will provide is with the best shot at going the full journey.”
“He's been clear with everyone of what is expected when you hit the court and done a lot of work to define role clarity. We’ve got a sample size from 20 games that when 12 blokes show up and get the job done, we get special results.”
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