A Rockhampton car crash victim has been recruited by the Australian Gliders Squad and has begun training with the squad in preparation for the wheelchair basketball World Championships 'Gold Cup' in 2006 and the Beijing Paralympics in 2008.

Joining the sport only 15 months ago, Schouten has gone from strength to strength on court, impressing both state and national selectors.

Schouten played for the Rockhampton (Rockwheelers – mixed) team before being selected for the Queensland Women’s side earlier this year and now takes on the challenge of performing alongside some of the ‘big names’ in the sport in the Australian team.

Schouten has recently returned to Rockhampton from her first Gliders Squad training camp.

“Training alongside the Australian team with all the big names in the sport was such a valuable experience,” she said.

“I went to the camp not knowing if it was a one-off opportunity, and came home as an official member of the Gliders Squad.

This week marks the two-year anniversary of Schouten’s introduction to a wheelchair after a car accident left her paraplegic.

“I have been in the chair with a spinal injury for two years this Thursday [today] following a head-on car collision on my way for a surfing trip with my dad.”.

The Central Queensland University student of Human Movement Science and resident of CQU's Capricornia College in Rockhampton, said her life has certainly changed since the accident, but believes her love of life and sport helps her overcome each challenge day by day.

"The accident certainly changed my perspective on life. I have come out of it a much stronger person in spirit and my positive attitude has helped so many others along the way," Naomi explained.

"There are a lot of things I really miss that I could do before my accident, but there's always something else that will come along, like basketball."