Kiera Mueller is a small defender with a neat left-foot kick and good decision-making skills from the Adelaide Crows in the AFLW. Keira was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease when she was 17 years olds and was also diagnosed with Endometriosis within 6 months of being diagnosed with Coeliac Disease. Despite the hardships faced, Kiera went on to be selected by the Crows with pick No. 69 in the 2022 NAB AFLW Draft. A graduate of the Crows Academy, Mueller thrives in one-on-one contests and provides plenty when on the attack. She made her debut in Round Seven of Season Seven. Kiera shares her experiences competing on a strict gluten free diet and her advice for young athletes with food restrictions.
You've had an amazing start to your career, is there a particular highlight that stands out for you?
I think my debut was pretty special. I was lucky enough to debut at my local home ground Unley, as Crows don't have a home ground. Playing at the Oval where I played a lot of my Junior footy was pretty amazing and made me feel less nervous. Being able to have all of my family and friends there for the game was pretty surreal.
When were you diagnosed with coeliac disease?
I was diagnosed when I was 17. I went through many years of pain and sickness without being diagnosed as coeliac.
Research has shown that females with coeliac disease have a two times higher risk of developing endometriosis. What is your experience with endometriosis and how has this condition impacted you?
It was a pretty crazy time of my life. I was diagnosed with coeliac and endo probably within 6 months of each other. I had never heard anything about either of them until I was diagnosed. Endo has definitely had a huge impact on mine and my family's lives. Trips to the hospital became part of my monthly routine with no answers for years. It impacted my ability to play sport and my schooling. It was pretty stressful and confusing being so young and not really understanding what was happening to my body. Obviously there was a bit going on and I think between both the endo and coeliac it really ran me down.
What is the biggest setback you have had in your career and what helped you overcome the challenge?
My health issues have definitely been a big impact on my career and my lifestyle. Being 'glutened' or having an endo flare up have happened throughout my whole career. I'm in a very lucky position that I have great medical support around me that work with me through these episodes and have put plans in place for when something does happen. Having the support from the Club, family and friends has been instrumental for helping me overcome these issues. The understanding and way in which people want to become more educated and learn more about it really makes me excited.
Did you have much awareness about what coeliac disease was when you were told you had the condition?
I had never heard of what coeliac disease was until I was diagnosed. Even once the doctor started explaining what it was, I still didn't understand. It took my family and I a while to learn and experiment with the new diet.
How do you best navigate travelling whilst staying true to your gluten free diet requirements?
I find it difficult to travel with the specific dietary needs. I get anxious when I'm at a new restaurant or when I get my food just not knowing what the kitchen looks like or if they understand the severity of it. The support staff with the Crows are great and always make sure to ask the questions and bring my own toaster and anything else I need to travel for a game. The team and staff are all aware that I'm coeliac, and always make sure I grab my food first to limit the chance of any cross contamination.
Have you ever felt any extra stress prior to games knowing the consequences if you accidentally consume gluten? If so, what have you done to manage this.
I think sometimes I can stress myself out if I feel a little bit off or have a slight tummy ache. I start to go through everything I've eaten and try to see if there could have been some gluten. Most of the time the adrenaline kicks in and I can get through the game, but I just try to continue to fuel myself and do my normal pre-game routine.
Can you share any specific gluten free meals or snacks that you find particularly beneficial and enjoyable for fuelling your training and games?
Night before games I will try to have something with lots of carbs like pasta, then for breakfast I'll have fruit and yoghurt. It's a pre game ritual to grab an acai bowl especially for a night game. I often have a either a sandwich or some banana bread at home before I leave, then when I get to the ground I have some popcorn and apricot bites.
What is the best advice you have received in terms of managing dietary restrictions?
Don't be embarrassed or shy to double check you food. The more you can educate the people around you, the better understanding they will have which will make it easier for you to be in group settings.
Do you have a favourite motivational/inspirational quote?
A classic - "You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take"
Thank you so much for taking the time to share your story, is there anything else you'd like to share?
That you can still be an elite athlete and struggle with health issues. There is so much more awareness and research now that there are so many alternatives. When I was younger and wanting to be drafted, I didn't have many athletes to look up to who had shared their experience of being coeliac. I think I just want to help create a space where younger people who might just be going through a diagnosis can look up to someone who has been through the same thing.