Several Commonwealth Games alumni are set to spearhead the Australian Team recently announced to compete at the World Para Athletics Championships.
With a combined 17 medals won at Commonwealth Games, the contingent is not short of international success, with the squad also sharing 84 medals at the World Para Athletics Championships, 10 World Champion titles and 45 medals at the Paralympic Games.
Birmingham 2022 gold medallists Madison de Rozario and Evan O’Hanlon lead the team, while silver medallists Angie Ballard, Sarah Edmiston and Jaydon Page have also been selected.
Commonwealth Games team members including Sam Carter, Rhiannon Clarke, Sarah Clifton-Bligh, Cameron Crombie, Marty Jackson, Jake Lappin, Rosemary Little, Ella Pardy and Samuel Rizzo join the 39-strong squad.
Athletics Australia General Manager, High Performance Andrew Faichney said he was thrilled with the quality of athletes who have earned selection this year and is looking forward to the return of the World Para Athletics Championships.
“The Australian public got to see a selection of our top para athletes on the podium at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games last year, but we haven’t seen a full contingent in force on a global stage since the Tokyo Paralympic Games, making this edition of the World Para Athletics Championships particularly exciting,” Faichney said.
“In 2019, Australia finished seventh from 118 counties with eight gold, six silver and nine bronze medals, and with such strong performances witnessed over the summer, I have every reason to believe this team will continue our rich history of success in Paris.
“I’d like to congratulate each athlete on their selection today, and I look forward to seeing what each of them is able to do against the world’s best, as competition intensifies in the lead up to the Paralympic Games just over a year away.”
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Australian team members will travel to staging camps in Montpellier, France and Nottwil, Switzerland later this month, ahead of the championships commencing on July 8.
Holding added significance as the first instalment of the championships since the 2019 edition held in Dubai, the event is the first standalone showcase of the world’s best para athletes in four years, providing a runway for established and emerging stars just over a year ahead of the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.
The 2023 World Para Athletics Championships will take place in Paris, France from 8-17 July.
2023 Australian Team – World Para Athletics Championships
- Corey Anderson
- Luke Bailey
- Angie Ballard
- Michal Burian
- Sam Carter
- Rhiannon Clarke
- Jaryd Clifford
- Sarah Clifton-Bligh
- Annabelle Colman
- Abby Craswell
- Dayna Crees
- Cameron Crombie
- Madison de Rozario
- Sarah Edmiston
- Jackson Hamilton
- Guy Henly
- Angus Hincksman
- Ella Hose
- Nicholas Hum
- Marty Jackson
- Deon Kenzie
- Reece Langdon
- Jake Lappin
- Rosemary Little
- Mali Lovell
- Vanessa Low
- Rheed McCracken
- Sam McIntosh
- Daniel Milone
- Evan O’Hanlon
- Jaydon Page
- Ella Pardy
- Chad Perris
- Samuel Rizzo
- Michael Roeger
- Samantha Schmidt
- Maria Strong
- James Turner
- Sarah Walsh
