New Zealand Fellowship to Develop High-Performance Pathway for Athletes with Intellectual Disabilities

Canterbury coach seeks international expertise to unlock potential of overlooked athletes

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND – November 6, 2025 – Jeremy Faumuinā, a basketball coach and social worker with NZ Police, has been awarded the prestigious Winston Churchill Fellowship to study international high-performance pathways for athletes with intellectual disabilities (ID) – research that will address a critical gap in New Zealand's sporting landscape.

With nearly 89,000 New Zealanders living with intellectual disabilities—representing 2% of the country's population—exceptional athletes within this community currently face limited opportunities to reach their full potential. Unlike other disability categories that benefit from established Paralympic pathways, ID athletes have no clear national development route unless families can afford costly private offshore connections.

"I coach basketball for athletes with ID and have witnessed firsthand the extraordinary talent that exists, but also the barriers these athletes face," says Mr Faumuinā.

"Currently, the only accessible pathway is through Special Olympics Canterbury, which, while valuable, isn't designed for high-performance development and often requires talented athletes to adapt their play to suit beginners."

Mr Faumuinā serves in the coach for Special Olympics Canterbury A team, has been competing in local women's leagues to access stronger competition, but the short seasons and mismatched formats are not sustainable for long-term athlete development.

The Fellowship will enable Mr Faumuinā to study successful international systems and bring back evidence-based strategies to establish a comprehensive high-performance pathway for ID athletes in New Zealand.

"While our country excels at supporting Paralympians, there's a clear gap when it comes to ID athletes.

"This project has the potential to reshape how New Zealand views and supports this talented but underserved community,” says Mr Faumuinā.

Drawing on his dual role as a social worker in high schools, Mr Faumuinā has observed how sport, particularly basketball, can transform young people with ID who are often misunderstood in mainstream education settings.

"Give them a basketball, and they light up. This is where I bridge the gap—bringing these students into sport to grow their confidence and wellbeing,” says Mr Faumuinā.

The knowledge gained through this Fellowship will be shared across key networks including Special Olympics Canterbury, TIMA Adapted Sports, Whaikaha Basketball Trust, and Basketball NZ, benefiting ID athletes, their families, and wider communities.

The initiative aims to build inclusive, aspirational futures for New Zealand's next generation of athletes with intellectual disabilities, ensuring no talent goes unrecognised due to systemic barriers.