Australian Paraolympians Make Their Debut
Australia has a total of 170 Paraolympians competing in Beijing.
Australia will have three powerlifters at the Paralympics. Abebe Fekadu, who is paralzyed, will compete in the men’s under-56kg [123lbs], with a personal best bench press of 160kg [352lbs]. He is joined by #2 World Ranked powerlifter Darren Gardiner, who had his leg amputated as a result of cancer. Deahnne McIntyre is Australia’s only female powerlifter in Beijing, and has congenital spina bifida.
Tahlia Rotumah is a cerebral palsy athlete, and is one of the youngest athletes on the Australian squad and the first ever indigenous female to represent Australia at the Paralympics. She is from the Minjungbal nation, and part South Sea Islander.
Rotumah only took up athletics seriously in 2006, rising the ranks quickly to take home two silvers at the Far East and South Pacific Games the same year. Born with haemiplegia, which affects her mobility on her right side, Rotumah said her acceptance of her disability had grown over time.”I don’t see it as a hindrance, I see it as a part of life, but it wasn’t always like that,” she said. Muscle spasms during the night and being unable to cut up food are just some of the simple day-to-day worries she has to face.
Paralympian Jessica Gallagher will not be competing after classification deemed her “not blind enough”. Gallagher, who was to contest the discus, long jump, shot put and the 100m and 200m sprints is said to be disappointed, but she knows that she’s got a very fair assessment.
Libby Kosmala will be the oldest member of the Australian team at 66 yrs old, and will be competing in her 10 games in 10m air rifle shooting.
Vision impaired athlete and six-time Paralympian, and 6-time gold medalist Russell Short will carry the Australian flag at tomorrow night’s opening ceremony in Beijing.
Click here to read an article about the top 10 Australian paralympians to watch, here for the official Australian Paraolympic website and here for another post about Aussie Paraolympic swimmers.
Over 4,000 athletes from 150 countries will join the 170 strong Australian team competing in these Paraolympics games.
While we admire what all Olympians have accomplished, there is very special admiration reserved for those who do it against the odds.
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