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) |