Laura Clemesha

Laura Clemesha
Laura Clemesha with the Queensland Firebirds in 2015
Personal information
Born (1992-01-21) 21 January 1992 (age 32)[1]
Toowoomba, Queensland[2]
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)[3]
Netball career
Playing position(s): GK, GD
Years Club team(s) Apps
2013–2019 Queensland Firebirds

Laura Clemesha (born 21 January 1992) is a retired Australian netball player.

Career

Clemesha grew up in the south-eastern Queensland city of Toowoomba and was school captain of her private secondary school Downlands College, before moving to the Sunshine Coast for university and her netball career.[4] She debuted for the Queensland Firebirds in the ANZ Championship competition in 2013 and was part of the team's back-to-back premiership successes in 2015 and 2016.[2] After being utilised off the bench in those years, Clemesha was re-signed to a more high-profile role ahead of the 2017 season, replacing long-time captain Laura Geitz at goal keeper.[5] She continued to play in that role for several years before announcing her retirement at the end of the 2019 season.[6]

Clemesha came out as gay in 2017 in a piece for her local newspaper The Caboolture News.[7]

Clemesha completed a Bachelor of Psychological Science (Class 1 Honours) in 2017 and a Master of Organisational Psychology in 2020 at the University of Queensland.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Swifts Insider - Vol 9, Issue 5". issu.com. Refer to pp. 8
  2. ^ a b "Laura Clemsha profile". Super Netball. Archived from the original on 9 August 2019.
  3. ^ "Laura Clemesha profile". Queensland Firebirds. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Toowoomba talent wants to step up for Firebirds". The Toowoomba Chronicle. 15 February 2017.
  5. ^ "Laura Clemesha steps up to hold Firebirds' fortress". The Courier Mail. 20 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Firebirds Duo Set To Hang Up Boots". Super Netball. 9 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Pro netball player comes out, never faced homophobia on the court". Out In Sports. 7 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Talking Qld Firebirds Retirement, Sexuality & Overcoming Self Doubt with Laura Clemesha". The Armchair Fan. 19 February 2021.