Poletti 
Carly Salmon [L] and Katelyn Smith [R] during the ParaMatildas training camp before the IFCPF World Cup. Photos: Damian Briggs/Football Australia. Graphic Design: Round Ball Australia
When Kelly Stirton named her 10-player squad for the ParaMatildas IFCPF World Cup campaign, the two co-captains were named as the goalkeeping duo of Carly Salmon and Katelyn Smith.
Salmon is preparing for her potential World Cup debut, and said that her answer on how she feels about it changes every time she is asked, because there are not enough words to describe it.
“It’s honestly insane. Just think about the horrific things that are happening in the world at the moment, and to think that I get the opportunity to be a part of something that’s so fun, so inspiring, so uplifting in a time like this, I’m super grateful,” Salmon said.
Salmon also said that she still gets goosebumps every time she hears the word captain, because she still goes to her teammates to learn from them and to grow, but knows that they do the same with her, saying it is really cool to have that dynamic within the team.
Her fellow goalkeeper Smith represented Australia at the World Cup in 2022, and said she feels nervous, but knows that with the difference in preparation for the two tournaments, where the ParaMatildas have been preparing for nearly two years as opposed to only a few weeks, it is going to help the squad.
“A lot of the girls have been together for at least a year now in training camps, so we’ve got a really good team friendship and really good bonds with each other which is good coming into a World Cup,” she said.
Being a co-captain means a lot to Smith, and outside of the squad responsibilities, it sends a message to everyone who has doubted her.
“It’s showing to everyone what I can do, and all those people who have said I can’t be a leader or I can’t do things or I’ll never represent Australia, it shows them I’m representing Australia, but also in a leadership role as well,” she said.
“[I’m] always there, helping the girls, guide them along, and especially the new ones coming in, just making sure that they’re alright and we all have a good time but take it seriously at the same time.”
Salmon and Smith have a close relationship as part of the goalkeepers union, and the best example of it is their matching tattoos.
Smith has four tattoos. On her left arm, she has a portrait of little Stitch with her sisters name on it and Ohana (a Hawaiian term which means family), because she means the world to Smith.
On her right thigh, she has another portrait of Stitch, wearing a kilt with the Scottish flag on it and holding a thistle.
On her left ankle, she has an illustration of her star-sign, and her right ankle is the one she shares with Salmon.
“[It’s] a running joke with me and Carly. My last name is Smith, so I’ve got chips [tattooed on me], her last name is Salmon, so she’s got a tattoo of a fish, and we’re known as fish and chips in the team,” Smith explained.
“We’re the best of friends. She came in just after our last World Cup, so two years ago. I was like, ‘let’s just have a try at goalkeeping’, and she’s had a try and she’s come so far since then.
“I’m really impressed and really proud of her, and she’s stuck to it. She’s worked really hard over the last two years to get to where she is, and we’ve become the best of friends.
“We’re co-captains, and we’re really good for each other. We bring each other up if we’re down, if we’re having a good game we praise each other.
“We’re never worried about what anyone else is doing. We’re just really good together.”
The ParaMatildas begin their IFCPF World Cup campaign against Japan at 12:30am AEDT on Friday, November 15.
All ParaMatildas games will be broadcast live on the Football Australia YouTube channel throughout the tournament.