Ayla Kowalczyk

Hailing from the NSW North Coast Ayla Kowalczyk has overcome a fracturing ankle in November 2025 to six months later secure selection in the Australian team for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games. Named to compete in the T38 long jump, at aged 15, she is one of the youngest members of the Australian team.

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Ayla Kowalczyk started her athletics journey very young.

“I first began athletics at around 9 years old after developing a love for competing at school athletics carnivals. I enjoyed the challenge of racing and field events, and I quickly became passionate about improving my performances and competing with other athletes. From the ages of 9 to 13, I competed as an able-bodied athlete, where I built a strong foundation in the sport and developed the resilience and dedication that continue to drive her today.

At age 12-years she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy (CP) and decided to compete in her first para-athletics season at age 14 under her T38 classification.

“While the transition presented new challenges and misconceptions, it also opened the door to incredible opportunities and allowed me to continue pursuing my passion for athletics at a higher level. I have since experienced significant success and progression. I would not have been able to achieve this without competing with my friends.”

In recent years, she has broken the Australian U15 T38 100m (14.43), U15 T38 Long Jump record (4.18m), and the U17 T38 Long Jump record (4.55m). In April, 2026, she achieved one of her biggest goals when selected to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games in the Women’s T37/38 Long Jump. These achievements reflect years of hard work, and they have motivated her to continue striving for success on the national and international stage.

Memorable sporting achievement: Being selected to represent Australia at the Commonwealth Games at just 15 years old. Wearing the green and gold and competing for my country is something I had dreamed about for many years, and having that dream become a reality is incredibly special. Being selected as one of the youngest athletes on the Australian team is a proud moment for both me and everyone who has supported me throughout my journey. It has inspired me to continue chasing even bigger goals in the future… Idol: Sally Pearson. Growing up, I admired her determination, work ethic and ability to perform under pressure on the biggest stage. Having the opportunity to meet her made her achievements even more inspiring, and she continues to motivate me to work hard and chase my goals in athletics…Most influential person in career: her Dad, Zenon Kowalczyk. He has supported me throughout every stage of my journey and has played a major role in shaping me into the athlete and person I am today. Not only is he my dad, but he is also my coach, which means he has been there through every training session, competition, challenge, and achievement along the way. He has supported me through both the highs and lows, always encouraging me to work hard, stay focused, and believe in myself. His dedication, knowledge, and commitment have helped me reach goals that once seemed impossible. He invests countless hours into my training and development, and his unwavering support and belief in me continue to motivate me to be the best athlete I can be. I am incredibly grateful for everything he has done and continues to do for my athletics career…Advice to your young self: I would tell my younger self to never give up and never doubt myself when things get difficult. There will always be setbacks and challenges, but staying positive, trusting the process, and believing in your abilities will help you achieve your goals…Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy shopping, going out, and spending time with my friends and family. Having a good balance helps me stay motivated and enjoy life outside of sport; I am passionate about representing my community through sport and enjoy sharing my athletics journey to inspire younger athletes. I love travelling to competitions, meeting new people, and challenging myself both on and off the track. My family plays a huge role in my success, and together we have travelled across Australia for athletics, creating lifelong memories through the sport…Sporting ambition: My sporting ambition is to represent Australia at the Paralympic Games and compete against the best athletes in the world while proudly wearing the green and gold…Other sports played: Before focusing on athletics, I competed in cheerleading with Adrenaline Cheer Elite Lismore. One of my highlights was travelling to Hawaii to compete internationally as part of my team…Hometown: Wollongbar…Coach: Zenon Kowalczyk…Biggest challenge faced: Fracturing my ankle in November 2025 was one of the biggest challenges I have faced. The injury significantly impacted my training, but through hard work and determination I was able to return to competition and set a new personal best just a few months later.

@ 22 July 2026 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au