Youth and experience aplenty in the new additions to the Paralympic Athletics Team

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By Josh Squire

Three-time Commonwealth Games medallist Angela Ballard and Gold Coast 2018 Team Member Samuel Rizzo lead the newest group of athletics stars announced for the Paris Paralympic Games.

Ballard’s selection means that she will make her seventh Paralympic Games appearance when they get underway at the end of next month. The co-captain of the Australian team will be looking to add to the four bronze and four silver medals she has won since her debut at the Sydney Games in 2000.

Six other Commonwealth Games alumni join Ballard in the recent additions to the team, including Gold Coast 2018 Team Member Samuel Rizzo.

Dubbed as two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Kurt Fearnley’s protégé, Rizzo knocked almost four seconds off the T54 1500m Australian record earlier this year to lay his claim as one to watch at the Paralympics.

The two pushers join four-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist Madison de Rozario, who was named to the original team of eight in April, as key parts of the team headed to France.

Birmingham 2022 medallists Rhiannon Clarke (bronze) and Sarah Edmiston (silver) will compete in their second Paralympics. Clarke will take on the women’s T38 100m and 400m races while Edmiston will be hoping to take another step up the podium in the women’s F44 discus event.

The new selections also include three-time Commonwealth Games Team Member and athletics stalwart Ella Pardy, as well as Birmingham 2022 Team Members Sarah Clifton-Bligh and Rosemary Little.

Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin announced the additions to the team earlier this week and talked about the crucial role that athletics plays in the Australian Paralympic campaign.

“There are competitors in this group who have tasted the excitement of Paralympic competition and felt the sense of achievement of winning a medal or reaching their personal goals. Others will be experiencing the Paralympic Games for the first time.

“Whether it’s your seventh Games, like our amazing co-captain Angie Ballard, or your very first, the pride and expectation that comes with representing Australia is something I know all the athletes we’ve named today will rise to and treasure.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games athletics program will be held in France’s largest stadium, Stade de France, from August 30 to September 8.

With thanks to the Paralympics Australia and Athletics Australia.

Current Australian Paralympics Athletics Team (as at 19 July 2024)

Name Age State Paralympic Experience Commonwealth Games Experience
Abby Craswell 20 QLD Debut
Angie Ballard 42 ACT Rio 2016 – 4 x 400m Relay T53/54 – Silver, 100m T53 – Bronze, 400m T53 – Bronze; London 2012 – 400m T53 – Silver, 200m T53 – Silver, 100m T53 – Bronze; Beijing 2008 – 4 x 100m T53/54 – Silver; Athens 2004 – 100m T53 – Bronze Birmingham 2022 – 1500m T54 – Silver; Gold Coast 2018 – 1500m T54 – Silver; Glasgow 2014 – 1500m - Gold
Angus Hincksman 17 SA Debut
Annabelle Colman 20 VIC Debut
Chad Perris 33 WA Rio 2016 – 100m T13 - Bronze
Corey Anderson 24 QLD Tokyo 2020
Dayna Crees 22 VIC Debut
Ella Hose 19 VIC Debut
Ella Pardy 33 WA Tokyo 2020; Rio 2016 – 4 x 100m Relay T35-38 – Bronze Birmingham 2022 – 100m T38 – 5th; Gold Coast 2018 – 100m T38 – 4th
Guy Henly 37 NSW Tokyo 2020; Rio 2016
Jackson Hamilton 21 WA Debut
James Turner 27 ACT Rio 2016 – Gold (800m T36); Tokyo 2020 – Gold (400m T36), & Silver (100m T36)
Jaryd Clifford 25 VIC Tokyo 2020 – 5000m T13 – Silver; Marathon T12 – Silver; 1500m T13 – Bronze
Luke Bailey 26 NSW Tokyo 2020
Madison de Rozario 30 WA Tokyo 2020 – Gold (800m T53 & Marathon T54), & Bronze (1500m T54); Rio 2016 – Silver (800m T53 & 4x400m T53/54); Beijing 2008 – Silver (4x100m T53/54) Birmingham 2022 – 1500m T54 – Gold, B2022 – Marathon T54 – Gold; Gold Coast 2018 – 1500m T54 – Gold, GC2018 – Marathon T54 – Gold
Mali Lovell 19 NSW Debut
Maria Strong 53 VIC Tokyo 2020 - Bronze
Matthew Clarke
Michal Burian 31 VIC Tokyo 2020 – Silver
Michael Roeger 35 SA Tokyo 2020; Rio 2016 – Bronze; London 2012; Beijing 2008
Nicholas Hum 31 VIC Tokyo 2020 - Bronze
Reece Langdon 27 VIC Debut
Rheed McCracken 27 QLD Tokyo 2020 – 100m T34 – Silver; Rio 2016 – 100m T34 – Silver, 800m T34 – Bronze; London 2012 – 100m T34 – Silver, 200m T34 – Bronze
Rhiannon Clarke 21 WA Tokyo 2020 Birmingham 2022 – 100m T38 – Bronze; Gold Coast 2018 – 100m T38 – Silver
Rosemary Little 41 QLD Tokyo 2020; Rio 2016; London 2012 – 100m T34 – Bronze Birmingham 2022 – 100m T34 – 6th
Sam McIntosh 33 VIC Tokyo 2020; Rio 2016; London 2012
Sam Rizzo 23 VIC Debut Gold Coast 2018 – 1500m T54 – 6th
Samantha Schmidt 22 QLD Tokyo 2020
Sarah Clifton-Bligh 20 NSW Debut Birmingham 2022 – 100m T34 – 5th
Sarah Edmiston 48 WA Tokyo 2020 – Discus F64 – Bronze Birmingham 2022 – Discus Throw F42-44/F61-64 – Silver
Sarah Walsh 24 NSW Tokyo 2020; Rio 2016
Telaya Blacksmith NSW Debut
Tim Logan 28 VIC
Vanessa Low 32 ACT London 2012 (rep. GER); Rio 2016 – Gold (Long Jump T42), & Silver (100m T42) (re. GER); Tokyo 2020 – Gold (Long Jump T63) (rep. AUS)

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