Mackenzie Arnold’s performance in the 2023 Women’s World Cup was nothing short of extraordinary. Demonstrating her talent and resilience at every stage, she had the nation on the edge of their seats during the dramatic Quarter Final penalty shootout, which propelled the Matildas to their first-ever Semi Final. Despite their subsequent elimination by England, Arnold remains a household name in Australia.
Her journey has been demanding, and life on the field has transformed for the Australian goalkeeper. Arnold recently received the No.1 jersey from fellow keeper Lydia Williams, who previously wore the number. Since debuting for the Australian National Team in 2012, Arnold’s path to becoming the number one goalkeeper has been challenging, often seeing her sidelined in favour of goalkeepers Melissa Barbieri, Lydia Williams, and Teagan Micah ,who were a more assured choice. Although she has solidified her status as Australia’s top goalkeeper, Arnold had experienced unseen challenges off the field.
Beyond her athletic prowess, a lesser known, more unseen aspect of Arnold’s story came to light. That is her journey living with hearing loss. In April 2023, Arnold was fitted with her first set of hearing aids, a pivotal moment she shared with her followers on Instagram.
“Those closest to me know how long I’ve avoided this day,” she wrote, “but here’s a little glimpse of a life-changing day for me.”
Arnold’s post was met with an outpouring of support, with one user writing:
“My eight-year-old daughter wears a hearing aid in her left ear due to partial conductive hearing loss. Seeing this made her smile, knowing that she too could achieve anything.”
Another user applauded her openness, saying:
“You have no idea the impact this will make on the disability community. Representation truly is everything, so thank you for being so open about this. Australia is proud of you, Macca!”
Arnold’s friends have often joked about her needing a hearing check, having a reputation amongst her teammates as someone who said “what?” a lot. Although, when the 2022 pandemic led to widespread mask-wearing, Arnold realised she had been relying on lip-reading more than she previously understood, telling SBS News:
“It was just after COVID and with everyone having masks on, it made me realise I was lip-reading more than I thought”.
When speaking to ESPN, Arnold credited her older brother Sam for encouraging her to address her hearing.
“My brother really helped with that… he was just sort of like: ‘You’re not even going to realise it in a couple months and it’s going to change your life.'”
“So, yeah, I guess it was an easy decision after I had come to it, but I think it was just sort of accepting the fact at the start.”
Arnold’s brother Sam has experienced significant hearing loss since the age of three, wearing hearing aids himself. She eventually scheduled an appointment at a hearing centre Sam had recommended. The encounter was an emotional moment for Arnold.
“I think I knew what was coming. It was just almost the reality of it. I just got a bit overwhelmed”.
Amidst her success representing Australia in the Women’s World Cup and Olympic Qualifiers and previously as Captain for Women’s Super League club West Ham United, it is essential to recognise that her influence extends beyond the goalposts.
Arnold’s decision to share her experience with hearing loss marked a pivotal moment, not only for herself but also for the broader dialogue surrounding athletes and disability. It has brought recognition to the Deaf and hard of hearing community. Her openness has had a profound impact, resonating with athletes like Breanna Doncovski, a 21-year-old member of the Australian Women’s Deaf Football Team who has battled severe hearing loss since birth. For Doncovski she became hopeful for the future of Deaf Football.
“[It] could absolutely turn tables for us” she said to ABC News, “and make everything possible”.
In 2023, Arnold leveraged her influence by partnering with Audika, a company specialising in hearing care. This collaboration aims to destigmatise hearing loss and encourage Australians to prioritise their hearing health. The partnership began with Arnold being fitted with a hearing device at an Audika clinic in Perth, Australia. Recently, Arnold took to Instagram to discuss the partnership, writing:
“Over the past year I’ve partnered with Audika in hopes of raising awareness and helping others prioritise their hearing. Earlier this week, I attended Audika’s Sensory Dinner, which was a wonderful way to share my journey and connect with others.”
In addition to her work with Audika, Arnold announced her role as an ambassador for the Bionics Institute. She expressed her pride in this new role on Instagram, stating:
“Extremely proud to be an ambassador for the Bionics Institute. Looking forward to continuing the awareness and supporting all the research for the 1.5 billion people with hearing loss.”
Mackenzie Arnold’s personal journey resonates with a widespread reality. Recent data reveals that one in six Australians and a significant portion of the UK adult population face challenges associated with hearing loss, a condition also affecting Arnold. Speaking to ESPN, Arnold emphasised:
“If you do need hearing aids and you do go down that road, it’s life changing. It improves your life so much and it’s obviously worth it when you get there.”
Mackenzie Arnold continues to use her platform and voice to raise awareness for hearing loss, an issue that is usually unseen. Whether on or off the field, Arnold has empowered countless young girls and boys and has served as a role model, demonstrating that achievement knows no bounds.
Wright, E. (2024). Elizabeth Wright – ABC News. [online] www.abc.net.au. Available at: https://www.abc.net.au/news/elizabeth-wright/13829922 [Accessed 22 Jun. 2024].
Doncovski, B. (2023). Matildas star Mackenzie Arnold’s ‘life-changing’ day. [online] SBS News.
Available at: https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/matildas-starmackenzie-arnolds-life-changing-day/i1oj02xs8 [Accessed 22 Jun. 2024].
Australia’s World Cup hero Arnold on dealing with hearing loss – ESPN
