ParaMatildas star, Nicole Christodolou, helped her team earn a maiden international title, winning player of the tournament in the process, as she aims to inspire others to live with the same “undefeated spirit” that has guided her journey.
The 31-year-old Greek-Australian was a crucial member of a dominant ParaMatildas outfit that won all five of their matches in the 2023 IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships, knocking off Japan 2-0 in the final on Saturday to win the tournament.
The forward bagged herself a goal in the final to cap off a stellar tournament wherein she scored seven times and was recognised as the best player as well.
Christodoulou has had to overcome significant adversity in her life, having suffered two strokes during her sleep when she was 21 years old that left her paralysed down the left side of her body.
She has found herself guided by the “undefeated spirit” of the ParaMatildas, calling it a lifestyle, and she hopes it is replicated by the next generation.
“Undefeated, to us, means not letting any obstacles get in your way no matter how hard they are. I had a stroke when I was younger. I couldn’t walk, I was paralysed,” she told SBS Sport.
“I’ve faced a lot of adversity and I never let any of them get to me, and now I’m here. Follow your dreams and if you want something, you’ll make it happen.”
Christodoulou admitted the surrealness of having her family watch her not only play for Australia but also score.
“It was the most surreal feeling (scoring in front of them),” she explained. “My family, this is the first time they’re watching me play for Australia…To be able to do that, the first goal of the (final), with them here cheering me on – this means everything to me,” she said.
The ParaMatildas forward felt extremely appreciative to earn the honour of player of the tournament,
“I started paralysed; now I’m playing football for my country, and I got player of the tournament, with a gold medal. What can beat that?”
