Jocelyn Neumueller is an Australian professional athlete, Paralympian and World Champion in two sports; Paracanoe and Para Surfing.
“Sports-mad" Jocelyn played soccer, basketball and badminton throughout her childhood, and as a teenager, was introduced to sailing, in which she won several national titles.
In 2012, she was diagnosed a rare autoimmune disease which resulted in paralysis, and sport played a major role in her recovery as she adjusted to life in a wheelchair. During rehabilitation, she began participating in wheelchair basketball and Sailability, a national program for budding sailors with a disability.
Towards the end of 2015, a member of the West Lakes Canoe Club recognised Jocelyn’s potential in Para-canoe and she transitioned to kayaking. The Bedford Park local saw immediate success, winning gold at the 2016 Australian National Championships and reaching the final of the 200m sprint at the 2016 ICF Para-canoe Sprint. Jocelyn then exceeded her own expectations when she qualified for the Paralympic Games, and again when she placed fifth on debut.
Following a successful 2016 season, Jocelyn stepped up yet again to claim the 2017 ICF VL1 200 World Championship crown. Shortly after this amazing victory, Jocelyn paralysed her left arm during a training session leaving her now to rely on her right arm. She started surfing in 2020 as part of her recovery and has fallen in love with the freedom and enjoyment the ocean has to offer - taking it to the next level.
From 2017 ICF Para World Champion on top of the world, to 2018 becoming paralysed in all but one limb, to 2021 - selected for ISA World Para Surfing World Championships and reclaiming her World Championship crown in another sport!
This is an Australian comeback story if you’ve ever seen one!
She is now training hard in a bid to defend her ISA World Para Surfing title in 2022 and take out the inaugural Adaptive Surfing Professionals World Championship tour.
While Jocelyn enjoys the competitive side of the sport, she is most passionate about progressing the manoeuvres and size of waves ridden by prone surfers worldwide, and creating opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to try, get involved and progress through the pathways of the sport in South Australia.
