By the time most athletes are thinking about slowing down, Ballina’s Kellie Coates is preparing to wear the green and gold for the first time.

The 49-year-old Ballina Basketball Association player has been selected in Australia’s women’s over-50s team for the inaugural FIBA Masters Open in Greece in July.

For Coates, known to many locals as “Killer Kel”, the selection caps a basketball journey stretching back almost 40 years.

“I never had the opportunity to follow a representative pathway as a young player,” she said.

“So to now be playing for Australia at this stage of my life — it’s pretty surreal.”

Coates grew up in Wee Waa in north-west NSW, where she started playing basketball at just 10 years old.

With no junior competition available, she lined up against adults from the beginning.

“We lived in a tiny town, so I played with adults from the age of 10 because there was no junior comp,” she said.

“I learned to love the challenge, the friendships, and the joy that came from sport.”

Despite excelling in several sports, including athletics, Coates said basketball opportunities only truly opened up when she reached university.

A chance invitation to train with state league players helped launch the next phase of her career.

“It wasn’t long before I was on court with the state league players,” she said.

“From there, I just kept learning, growing and playing.”

From her early days with Lismore Storm to her current role in Ballina basketball, Coates has become one of the region’s strongest advocates for women’s and girls’ participation in the sport.

She said one of her proudest achievements was helping create more opportunities for girls locally.

“I feel most proud when I see all the girls playing in a competition that I helped create,” she said.

“And now I get to play alongside some of them — that’s pretty special.”

Away from basketball, Coates runs Big Picture Health, works as a PDHPE teacher and is raising two children, Jackson and Taya.

Her daughter Taya is now following her onto the basketball court.

Coates said balancing work, sport and family came down to discipline and priorities.

“If it’s important, it’s a priority,” she said.

“That’s how I live — with intention and organisation.”

Her journey has not been without setbacks.

A serious back injury left her battling chronic pain for three years before she eventually underwent major spinal surgery, including a lumbar fusion and disc replacement.

“It got to the point where the pain outweighed my desire to be on court,” she said.

“That’s when I knew I had to do something.”

Pilates, breathwork and mindset training became central to her recovery.

Within eight months of surgery, she was back playing basketball.

Now she is preparing for what she describes as a lifelong dream.

“Wearing the green and gold is something I’ve always wanted to do,” she said.

“To be part of the first-ever FIBA Masters tournament — that’s an honour I don’t take lightly.”

The FIBA Masters Open 2026 will be held in Corinth and Loutraki, Greece, from July 4 to July 12.

Coates said she hoped her story encouraged other women to keep playing sport regardless of age.

“If you don’t use it, you lose it,” she said.

“I’m still learning, still discovering what I’m capable of.”

And for women who believe they are too old to continue competing?

“They’re lying to themselves,” she said.

“You decide how you age. If you want to keep playing, you can create the opportunity.”

Photo: Kellie Coates with fellow Aussie players from Ballina Kerrie Vagg (left) playing in F40 team Nicky Gallagher