Brad and Wayne Kinross are eager for a chance to add to their medal collection.
The 25-year-old identical twins are hoping for a home game advantage when they play for South Australia in basketball at the Special Olympics on Friday.
“It’d be fantastic, hometown, never done that before,” Brad says.
The brothers, who have a learning disability, are teammates on the court - and best mates off it.
“It’s amazing playing with my brother,” says Wayne. “Not many people can stop us.”
They train up to four times a week with their dad, Trevor Kinross, who says their commitment to their sport has helped them gain many life skills.
“Social skills, meeting new friends, discipline, awareness around you, it all comes into it,” he says.
“And basketball’s a wonderful sport for that, especially motor skills.”
The Special Olympics National Games is a major sporting event that happens once every four years.
This year, the games are in Adelaide, where hundreds of competitors have gathered to compete in 11 different sports, including swimming, athletics, and ten pin bowling. For the first time, AFL will join as an exhibition sport.
Corene Strauss, Chief Executive of the Special Olympics, says the event is about much more than competing.
“We’re like a human rights movement for people with intellectual disabilities, who face injustice, inequality, and exclusion on a daily basis,” she says.
“Through sport, we give people with intellectual disability a chance to grow their self-esteem, their self-confidence, but at the same time we’re also building and inclusive world.”
“We’re breaking down the barriers of exclusion, and misdiagnosis, and marginalisation.”
The Special Olympics also provides year-round support for athletes, providing access to training, coaching, and competitions.
Brad and Wayne's skills have already taken them around the world, competing in Turkey, Ecuador, and Italy as well as Greece and the US.
Winning two preliminary games this week means their team now has a shot at Special Olympics gold.
When they play on Friday, the whole family will be watching, including big sister Teresa, who also plays basketball at a competitive level.
“They’ve definitely put in a lot of hard work over the years to get where they are now,” she says.
“I’m very proud … don’t tell them that though!”
For the twins, winning isn't the only goal.
Wayne says the best part is “meeting new people and getting new friendships.”
“[It’s a] very good experience,” adds Brad. “Other people should give it a go.”
But gold, of course, would be the icing on the cake.
