SUPER COOPER WON’T BE HELD BACK FROM GLORY
WITH four training sessions and two possible grand finals across two codes, it is a massive week in the life of rising sports star Cooper Guest.
And that is before university, parttime work and a list of medication that runs the length of his arm.
That’s because merely taking the field is a big ask for the 21-year-old who suffers from life-threatening cystic fibrosis.
But Guest refuses to let his disorder define him.
Instead the budding primary school teacher wants to be just like any other ordinary 21-year-old.
The only issue, is his competitive drive outstrips most his age.
It is why Guest will line up in the AFL Townsville reserve grade grand final for Thuringowa on Saturday before backing up for the EV2 Lions in the Tropical Big Bash the next day.
Guest has been a crucial part of the Lions’ top order, with the side able to book its spot in Sunday’s inaugural Tropical Big Bash decider with a win over the Wildcatz today.
While grand finals could beckon in both sports, Guest wasn’t showing
any added emotion. “I am pretty calm at the moment. As the old saying goes, it is just another game of footy and another game of cricket,” Guest said.
“I think with the group for both sports, we have been pretty level headed through the competitions and we are excited to play in the final game of the year.
“I have done two training sessions for footy and two for cricket. It is a pretty huge week on top of university and work, it will be one of my biggest weeks of the year.
“But you just go about it, stuff has to be done so you get it done. When you love what you do with footy and cricket, it doesn’t feel like work.”
While he doesn’t want his disorder to rule his life, Guest does not shy away from it either.
He knows the fact that he manages to play sport while also maintaining his health is an anomaly, but for him the pair go hand-in-hand.
And if he can inspire another young person dealing with the disorder to not let it hold them back from their dreams, he thinks that would be “awesome”.
“(Sport) gives me something to strive for. If I am able to keep my body right I will be able to play footy and able to play cricket as well as be able to play with my mates. It is a simple equation,” he said.
“There aren’t too many people that I know of that play sport with CF, but everyone is an individual and everyone is different. I don’t want to get boxed in to a certain way I have to be.
“I want to be my own person, deal with my CF the way I deal with it and play my sport.
“I wouldn’t limit that to sport, whatever they want to do. If they saw me achieve something, and that inspires them to go achieve their passions, whatever it is, then that is awesome.”