The First International Silent Games (now called the Deaflympics) was held 100 years ago in Paris, 1924, with the aim of reducing stigma against deaf people. Over the past century, the games have grown into a global movement allowing deaf athletes to compete at an elite level on the international stage. However, the history of deaf sports in Australia is much older, dating back to Melbourne's First Deaf Mutes Cricket Club, which is perhaps the oldest deaf sports club in the world, founded in the 1880s. In celebration of the centennial anniversary of the Deaflympics, and Australia's pioneering role in deaf sports, we reflect on the history of deaf sports in Australia and participation by Australian athletes with hearing impairment in both deaf and non-deaf sports. By exploring this history, we highlight issues that affect both professional and amateur athletes with hearing impairment, including communication barriers, training difficulties, and societal attitudes towards disability. Through interviews with deaf sports ambassadors, we analyse strategies that enable these athletes to succeed. Finally, we discuss the role of otolaryngologists in helping to navigate the unique challenges that arise at the intersection of deafness and sports, including injury prevention, hearing preservation, and performance optimisation.