Elle Steele PLY - 2023 VU Sport Hall of Fame inductee

Elle Steele PLY is a five-time Australian swimming representative, Paralympian and passionate advocate for inclusion in sport. A proud Victoria University alum, she has combined elite athletic achievement with leadership, community engagement and personal development.

Born with arthrogryposis, a congenital condition affecting the joints, Elle has spent her life adapting to constant physical change. These experiences shaped the resilience, empathy and determination that carried her to the highest levels of international sport. She represented Australia at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games as a member of the Australian Paralympic Swim Team, competing in freestyle and backstroke events.

Her sporting journey extended beyond the pool. Elle became the first woman to represent Victoria in wheelchair rugby, demonstrating her willingness to challenge barriers and embrace new opportunities in sport.

After completing an Advanced Diploma of Business and later a Bachelor of Business at Victoria University, Elle built a career focused on leadership, personal development and empowerment. Known as The Self Belief Agent, she works as a motivational speaker, coach and facilitator, helping individuals and organisations build confidence, resilience and authentic leadership.

Over the past decade, she has supported hundreds of people through coaching, mentoring and workshops that create safe, supportive environments for personal growth. Her work draws on lessons from elite sport, emphasising self-belief, adaptability and the power of inclusive communities.

Elle is also a strong advocate for disability inclusion in sport. She currently serves as Project Manager for the Building Inclusive Sport Clubs program with Disability Sport Australia, supporting clubs across the country to become more accessible and welcoming. She has also delivered inclusion initiatives with Sport and Recreation Victoria, Victoria University and Disability Sport and Recreation.

In 2023, Elle delivered her first TEDx talk, The Dance of Disability, exploring the complexity and beauty of living with disability.

Her induction into the Victoria University Sport Hall of Fame recognises both her achievements as an athlete and her ongoing commitment to building a more inclusive sporting community.