Kat Taylor shows what is possible

The 2026 World Squash Masters Championships has seen one Australian ParaSquash player remind us of why the squash community is so special.

With more than 900 players from 55 nations competing in Perth, Australia, the competition is already fierce and tough, but no one knows this better than Kat Taylor.

Competing in the Women’s 40+ draw, Taylor continues to break down barriers and show what is truly possible, while also raising awareness for future generations of para-squash athletes.

Living with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), a group of 13 inherited genetic conditions that affect the body’s connective tissues, which support the skin, joints, blood vessels and organs, there was a time in Taylor’s journey when playing squash may not have been an option.

She said: “I live with this condition, and my wheelchair acts as PPE as it helps me get around without fearing that I am going to have a fall or dislocate anything.

“It has been tricky to navigate, but I manage.”

A keen squash player who has competed on courts across Australia since the age of 12, Taylor’s passion and love for the game came to an abrupt halt in 2018.

She said: “I’ve had it my whole life, but it only became disabling in 2018. So, I thought I was never going to play squash again, let alone run around on court and that wasn’t a life that I wanted to live.

“It took a lot for me to get through it, and it was a tough five years, but I chose to distract myself, as I went straight from a bachelor’s in sports management to a master’s in sports management.”

During this period, Taylor was fortunate to meet former World No.3 Dean Williams, who helped inspire her to return to the game.

She said: “We connected by chance. He saw me in my chair and noticed my squash ball tattoo on my ankle, and he loved it.

“Since then, we have been working together with the aim of navigating wheelchair squash and how I would play, and he has really helped me. Working with him and having guidance from a mentor like Dean Williams has been great, but the journey has been a long one, as we are moving only one step at a time.”

Taylor competed in her opening match of the event in the Women’s 40+ draw, where she was able to compete against compatriot Kelsi Lawrence [5/8].

Despite the defeat at the Belmont Squash Centre, losing 11-0, 11-5, 11-5, Taylor shared why this year’s event has meant much more than results.

She added: “Having the World Squash Masters Championships here in Perth was a great opportunity for me to show people you can do anything!

“At every tournament, there is a disparity between people who can actually play without any hurdles, and then people like me who want to play, but we do our best!”

Taylor continued: “So when I found out that this year’s event was in Perth, I thought that I had a great opportunity to show people what is possible.

“That is what I have been working on for the last five years. I have been working on how to make wheelchair squash and para-athletes get the attention on court.”

And despite Taylor’s battles to return to playing squash, she would never have imagined that she would have the chance to practise on the all-glass court at Karrinyup Shopping Centre – a moment that meant much more than simply having a hit.

She added: “Playing at the World Masters was always about showing people what is possible, and raising awareness for wheelchair squash, but having the chance to play on the glass court was amazing.

“With all the action on the glass court, I don’t think anyone was expecting to see someone in a wheelchair on a squash court hitting. So, I am hoping that doing things like that will just get more exposure for wheelchair squash and para-athletes.”

Taylor continued: “Ultimately, this is not about me. Playing at a world event is about showing people who want to play the sport that I love so much that it is possible.

“If I can play a part in helping someone achieve a ParaSquash goal, which they may not think exists, it would mean everything to leave something behind for future generations.”