Beach volleyball’s Tom Bergemann in pursuit of Olympic dream despite lack of sand courts in rural Qld

He’s the bush battler without a beach volleyball court who has trained in the dirt in pursuit of an Olympic dream.

Tom Bergemann is from rural Glenwood, 40 kilometres north of Gympie, and an athlete scouted as part of the Queensland Academy of Sport’s Brisbane 2032 Olympic talent identification programs.

The 16-year-old often travels more than 100km to train in Nambour or more than 200km to play at Brisbane or the Gold Coast.

Part of the champion’s motivation is spurred by honouring a sibling who died in tragic circumstances.

In 2022, Bergemann’s older brother Cody was killed when his vehicle rolled a short distance from his family home.

Within 24 hours, Bergemann was back on a volleyball court.

“He had a game that night and I told him he didn’t have to go,” his mother, Katherine Bergemann-Cook said.

“Volleyball is what got him through.

“Tom started volleyball three years ago because of his mates. He’s had a few that he’s gone right the way through to representative teams with, and that’s the place where he feels supported.”

Against the odds

Ms Bergemann-Cook said the family were in the process of building sand courts on their property.

“But we’re a family that’s struggling to get by and I’m spending time working on a remote homestead in the Northern Territory just to pull together a bit of money for everything we need,” she said.

Bergemann’s father, Paul, has battled a severe back injury that has put him off work for an extended period.

Three of Bergemann’s remaining four siblings have special needs, and their 36-hectare property has been home to foster children and others looking for a safe port of call.

The family credits his indoor volleyball coach at Gympie State High, John Scheuber, and other coaches for often coming to the family’s aide when they can’t transport Bergemann to training, games or events.

Like Bergemann’s other peers, Mr Scheuber references the youngster’s maturity, dedication and friendly nature as both a reason for his sporting success, and his popularity.

“Tom is well-loved. Everywhere he goes, he says hello to everyone,” he said.

“He’s a very nice guy, as well as being a freak of an athlete. I think everyone would love to see him there [at an Olympics] one day.”

‘Gold human being’ inspirational to others

Nathan McLean, an area manager for the Queensland Rugby League, has a daughter, Matilda, also playing representative beach volleyball amid Gympie State High’s sand-less surrounds.

“Tom is a superstar, inspirational to everyone, but incredibly humble,” Mr McLean said.

“He’ll come up look you in the eyes and when he talks to you, he’s really listening and caring about what you have to say.

And winning medals is something the 1.9 metres Bergemann has become accustomed to, despite having limited family background in volleyball.

He’s a gold medal winner for Queensland in both beach and indoor volleyball at national championships, has represented Australia in Uzbekistan and has won several Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards.

Ms Bergemann-Cook said some senior players also initially protested having to play against her son after he successfully stepped up to regional men’s competitions.

“They said he should have to stay in the juniors,” she said.

“Friendship is the main motivator for him.”

You for 2032 talent hunt

Alex Roberts leads the Queensland Academy of Sport’s talent identification and development program for the Brisbane Olympics, an initiative titled You for 2032.

Ms Roberts has been travelling the state trying to unearth athletic gems and observed that the most enthusiastic applicants often came from rural areas.

“We generally have a good reception in the regions because it’s an opportunity to be seen that athletes often don’t get,” he said.

“We put all our athletes through a whole range of tests to check their underlying capacities.

“We look at their speed, their strength, their power … all the pieces that go into becoming an athlete.”

Ms Roberts noted that many of the youth athletes being identified ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics were being scouted with the intention of transitioning them into other sports.

She said Queensland was blessed with children who excelled in surf sports, or power-based activities like rugby or CrossFit that gave them abilities which transfer well to multiple activities.

In that respect, fashioning a beach volleyballer out of somebody who trains on dirt or indoors is not at the extreme end of the spectrum, but it still presents challenges.

Chelsea Stevenson has coached Queensland representative volleyball teams in both beach and indoor volleyball and said the weather, heavy sand and rules often took adjustment.

“I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the success of our regional beach volleyballers.”

Dig, set, spike

Construction of the sand courts on the Bergemann’s property has stalled several times due to cash flow, but the family says it has received council approval and assistance from neighbours and local businesses. 

Bursaries from the QAS and Variety Queensland, a children’s charity, have also helped the Bergemanns’ during their challenging times, as has cooperation from Jeff Bampton at the Sandpit Volleyball Club, Nambour.

“We’ve levelled out the tiers, cut a walkway around where the courts will go, and had some help from people with diggers,” Ms Bergemann-Cook said.

“But there’s no sand yet. We need to really get this going because we have some amazing kids up here.