‘Loyal, Proud, Fierce’: Australian Paralympic Team Set For Tokyo 2020

Paralympics Australia is proud to confirm the largest Australian Paralympic Team to contest a Games overseas, with a contingent of 179 Para-athletes ready to travel to Japan to represent our nation at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, starting 10 days from now, on August 24.
 
Australia will compete in 18 of the 22 sports on the program for Tokyo, including debut Paralympic sports Para-taekwondo and Para-badminton, equaling the record for most sports Australia has competed in at a single Games, set at Sydney 2000. 

The Team size of 179 eclipses the 175 who competed at Rio 2016. Australia has been represented by a larger number of athletes only once since the first Paralympics Games, in Rome in 1960, at the home Games in Sydney.  
 
Australia’s Team comprises 101 males and 78 females, ranges in age from 15 to 60 and includes 84 athletes who will attend their first Paralympic Games. It also includes two athletes who will compete at their seventh Paralympics, one who will compete at her sixth and six who will compete at their fifth Games.
 
“The Australian Paralympic Team for Tokyo 2020 should be a source of enormous pride for all Australians,” Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin said.
 
“They embody the great strength and diversity of our communities and serve as a beacon for the continued advancement towards a fairer and more inclusive society.  
 
“They also demonstrate the exceptional strength of character that epitomises Australian Paralympians. To qualify for an Australian Paralympic Team is an outstanding achievement. Yet, this time, it has required a unique level of resilience and determination.  
 
“Through unprecedented obstacles, including the one-year Games postponement, as well as travel restrictions and lockdowns which severely impacted qualification pathways, training camps and international competition, our Para-athletes adapted, innovated and forged ahead in pursuit of their goals.
 
“It’s been a long and difficult road but their time has finally arrived. I can’t wait to do everything possible to create the optimal performance environment for our Team members so they can have a safe and memorable experience in Tokyo.”
 
The Team features three Indigenous Australian athletes, Rio 2016 Para-cycling silver medalist Amanda Reid, discus thrower Samantha Schmidtand swimmer Ruby Storm. Twenty-four Team members were born overseas, including swimmer Ricky Betar, who was born in Japan. Para-athletics wheelchair racer Eliza Ault-Connell returns to the Team after last competing in the Paralympics at Athens 2004, the longest stretch between Paralympic teams in Australia’s history.
 
Judoka Wayne Phipps will become the first Australian to compete in Para-judo since Beijing 2008, the Australian Gliders women’s wheelchair basketball team returns to Paralympic competition for the first time since 2012, our 11-strong Para-table tennis squad – including two-time dual Paralympic and Olympic representative Milly Tapper - is our largest since the Tel Aviv Games in 1968, and Shae Graham becomes the first woman to play for the Steelers, Australia’s wheelchair rugby team who will be aiming for an unparalleled third consecutive gold medal.  
 
“What lies ahead for this exceptional Australian Team is the unique hard-won honour of representing our nation in what is now the world’s third-largest sporting event,” Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Lynne Anderson said.  
 
“It’s their chance to show what they’ve been training for and what they’re capable of. It’s their chance to do their absolute best.
 
“This moment is about celebrating our elite Para-athletes. It’s also about continuing to build on the work of generations of Paralympians who have made Australia one of the top Para-sport nations. After finishing on top of the medal tally at Sydney 2000, we finished fifth in the world at each of the past four Games. It’s a record of excellence that has impacted Australian society in a profoundly positive way and helped change the narrative around disability. I know this Team will be fiercely determined to continue that progress.
 
“To our National Sporting Organisation partners, who have navigated the uncharted waters of the past 18 months, thank you for your persistence, professionalism and teamwork. To the many coaches and support staff, thank you for your dedication and expertise. To all the families, partners and friends, our athletes could not have reached these heights without your love and support. We are all in your debt.
 
“Similarly, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Federal Government, Sport Australia and the Australian Institute of Sport. We cannot continue to set such a high standard without your firm and consistent backing and belief.
 
“Athletes, the stage is now yours. Good luck to all of you and may you achieve everything you have been striving for.”

Key Facts:

- Australia will be represented by 179 athletes, including two athletics guides and two triathlon guides and one rowing coxswain.

- It is the largest Australian Team sent to a Paralympic Games overseas. The previous record was 175 for Rio 2016.

- Of the athletes competing in Tokyo, 101 (56.4%) are male and 78 (43.6%) are female.

- 84 athletes (46.9%) will make their Paralympic debut.

- The Team will be supported by 168 staff, including three ramp assistants for boccia and three handlers for triathlon.

- Australian will compete in 18 of the 22 sports, matching the record for the most sports Australia has competed in at a single Games, set at Sydney 2000. Australia competed in 16 sports at Rio 2016.

- Two athletes, Michael Auprince and Hannah Dodd, will compete in a new sport; Auprince (wheelchair basketball) represented Australia in swimming at London 2012. Dodd (wheelchair basketball) represented Australia in equestrian at London 2012.

- Three athletes - Amanda Reid (cycling), Samantha Schmidt (athletics) and Ruby Storm(swimming) - are Indigenous Australians. Two Indigenous Australians competed at Rio 2016 and two at London 2012.

- Twenty-four athletes (13.4%) were born overseas, including swimmer Ricky Betar, who was born in Japan.

- The average age of athletes on the Team will be 30.1 years. It was 29.2 years for Rio 2016.

- The average age of the male athletes is 30.4 years and the average age of the female athletes is 29.8 years.  

- The youngest athlete on the Team is swimmer Isabella Vincent, who will be 15 years and 222 days when the Games open on August 24. The oldest athlete on the Team is archer Peter Marchant, who will be 60 years and 74 days.

- Jaydon Page (athletics) is the youngest male on the team (16 and 244 days). Carol Cooke (60 years and 18 days) is the oldest female.

- Janine Watson will represent Australia in taekwondo and Caitlin Dransfield and Grant Manzoney will compete in badminton. Both sports are on the Paralympic program for the first time.

- Wayne Phipps is the first Australian to qualify in judo since Beijing 2008.

- The Australian Gliders return to Paralympic competition after missing qualification for Rio 2016.

- The 11-strong table tennis team is Australia’s largest table tennis squad since the Tel Aviv 1968 Games.

- Shae Graham becomes the first woman to represent the Steelers wheelchair rugby side.  

- Eliza Ault-Connell returns to the Paralympic Games after last representing Australia at Athens 2004. Due to the one-year postponement of Tokyo 2020, this is the longest stretch between Paralympic Teams in Australia’s history. Three athletes - John Newton (1968/1984), Brett Holcombe (1984/2000) and Robert Jordan (1972/1988-1992) competed at a Paralympic Games 16 years after their previous appearance.

- Matthew Levy becomes the second Australian to compete in swimming at five Paralympic Games (2004-2020), alongside Kingsley Bugarin (1984-2000).

- Five members of the Team previously competed at the Paralympic Games in another sport:

      • Dylan Alcott (wheelchair tennis) competed in wheelchair basketball in 2008 (gold) and 2012 (silver). Alcott won two gold medals in wheelchair tennis at Rio 2016.

     • Michael Auprince (wheelchair basketball) competed in swimming in 2012, winning one gold and one silver medal.  

    • Daniela Di Toro (table tennis) competed in wheelchair tennis in 1996, 2000 (silver), 2004 (bronze), 2008 and 2012 before competing in table tennis at Rio 2016.

    • Hannah Dodd (wheelchair basketball) competed in equestrian at London 2012.

    •Amanda Reid (cycling) competed in swimming in 2012 before competing in cycling at Rio 2016 (silver).

Most experienced athletes on the 2020 Australian Paralympic Team:

- Christie Dawes (athletics) and Daniela Di Toro (table tennis) will attend their seventh Paralympic Games. Only Libby Kosmala (12), Russell Short (eight), Kieran Modra (eight) and Liesl Tesch (seven) went to as many or more.

- Angela Ballard (athletics) will attend her sixth Paralympic Games.

- Six athletes will compete at their fifth Paralympic Games. They are: Ryley Batt (wheelchair rugby), Lina Lei (table tennis), Matthew Levy (swimming), Tristan Knowles (wheelchair basketball), Shaun Norris (wheelchair basketball) and Ben Weekes (wheelchair tennis).

*Supplied by Paralympics Australia