THE STORY OF US
THE AUSTRALIAN NINJA WARRIOR STARS ON THEIR INSPIRATIONAL LOVE STORY
They understand better than anyone the importance of not sweating the small stuff. And for Australian Ninja Warrior contestants and sporting super-couple Verity and Nathan Charles, making the most of every moment has always been vital.
While Verity, a 28-year-old professional netball player for West Coast Fever, has Type 1 diabetes, 30-year-old recently retired professional rugby player Nathan was believed to be the world’s only professional elite contact-sport athlete with cystic fibrosis. But as far as the inspirational Perth couple are concerned, life is simply to be embraced.
It was back in 2013 when Nathan first saw Verity in a gym. “I was going through a knee reconstruction rehab at the time and I just saw Verity dancing and bopping around with a beautiful smile on her face and thought, ‘She’s someone I want to get to know’,” says Nathan, now running health and safety consultancy Veritas RSW.
“We actually didn’t run into each other again for a couple of months. We then became really good friends, so it took a while for us to take that next step.”
Indeed, Verity admits that embarking on a relationship wasn’t exactly high on her list of priorities when she met Nathan.
“I thought he was a lovely guy and very attractive, but
I was quite young and happy to be single and focusing on my sport,” she says. “We had a lovely friendship, but then I began to realise this guy is someone really very special. It was becoming harder and harder to leave him for my sport. We haven’t looked back since.”
Married in December 2017,
the couple have often faced time apart due to their individual sporting commitments.
“Nathan was overseas playing rugby and I was back here playing netball,” says Verity, adding with a smile, “and now I’ve finally got him home.
“Juggling a long-distance relationship definitely had its obstacles. I think the hardest part was if Nathan got sick or one of us was injured, or if you had a bad run with sport. It’s hard because you can’t physically be there for them and there’s only so much you can do for someone through a text or phone call.
“I particularly remember one game when Nathan happened to get knocked out. I was watching it live on TV and it was 2am my time. It was such a horrible feeling – I couldn’t do anything to help and was just waiting for that call to know he was OK. But we have such a strong relationship.”
Nathan is determined to “create awareness around the world to those who might not know what cystic fibrosis is”. Meanwhile, Verity was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 17.
“I take about four to five needles a day. Between Nathan and me, the house is pretty much like a mini pharmacy,” she says, laughing: “We’re definitely a little one-stop-shop here!
But Verity feels “very blessed” to have Nathan in her life.
“I don’t have to look far for inspiration,” she says.
As for appearing on Nine’s Australian Ninja Warrior, Verity and Nathan are relishing the opportunity.
“It’s absolutely incredible,” says Verity. “It’s definitely going to be up there as one of the best things we’ve done.”
AUSTRALIAN NINJA WARRIOR AIRS ON MON., 7.30PM NINE NETWORK AND 9NOW