Australia at the 2016 Summer Paralympics


competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 to 18 September 2016. Australia repeated its 2012 Summer Paralympics achievement in finishing fifth of the medal tally.
Notable achievements at the Games:
In May 2015, the Australian Paralympic Committee announced Kate McLoughlin as the Chef de Mission. She replaced Jason Hellwig, the former APC CEO, who stepped down from the role. The APC appointed Kurt Fearnley and Daniela Di Toro as team captains. 2004 Athens Games was the last time the team had captains. Wheelchair basketballer Brad Ness was announced as the Opening Ceremony flag bearer at a ceremony at the Paralympic Village on 5 September 2016. Curtis McGrath who lost his legs in the Afghanistan war and won Australia's first gold medal in paracanoe at the Games carried the Australian flag in the closing ceremony.

Fundraising

The APC stated that it needed to raise $7 million to fund its Rio 2016 campaign. The majority of APC's funding to send Australian teams to major events originates from fundraising. In January 2016, it launched the Australian Paralympic Foundation to manage its fundraising. Cadbury made the first major donation of $1 million. In the four-year period leading up to Rio, the Australian Sports Commission provided $62 million in funding. At the Team Launch, Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull stated that the Australian Government had provided close to $65 million direct funding to support the 167 athletes with a disability in the lead-up to Rio." To assist with funding raising, its broadcast partner Seven Network organized a Parathon on 5 March 2016.

Official team launch

The Official Australian Paralympic Team Launch was held in Sydney on 20 June 2016. The major dignitaries present were Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, Federal Minister for Sport, Sussan Ley, the Shadow Minister for Sport, Jim Chalmers and the New South Wales Minister for Sport, Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres. The Launch was held during the 2016 Australian Federal Election. There were more than 30 Rio hopefuls and representatives from each Australian Paralympic Team since 1960 in attendance. Glenn Tasker, Australian Paralympic Committee President stated that "We are not just chasing medals, we are aspiring to shape attitudes and perceptions of disability and to build on the huge momentum and growth that the Paralympic movement is experiencing.” Prime Minister Turnbull said: "I want to salute the achievements of all of our Paralympians past and present. I want to wish you all the best on the road to Rio. you are doing our nation such great service. We are with you, we are with you all the way, we back you all the way, all the way to Rio."

Medallists

The following Australian competitors won medals at the games.
MedalNameSportEventDate
SwimmingWomen's 400 m freestyle S8
SwimmingWomen's 100 m freestyle S8
SwimmingWomen's 50 m freestyle S8
SwimmingWomen's 100 m backstroke S9
CyclingMen's individual pursuit C3
SwimmingMen's 400 metre freestyle S9
SwimmingWomen's 50 m freestyle S4
TriathlonWomen's PT5 triathlon
AthleticsMen's Long Jump - T36
AthleticsMen's 100 m T42
AthleticsMen's 800 m T36
SwimmingMen's 100 metre freestyle S9

Heath Davidson
Wheelchair tennisMen's quad doubles
Wheelchair tennisMen's quad singles
CyclingWomen's Time Trial T1-2
ParacanoeMen's KL2
SwimmingWomen's 100m Breaststroke SM6
, Maddison Elliott, Lakeisha Patterson, Ashleigh McConnellSwimmingWomen's 4 x 100m Freestyle Relay 34 points
CyclingWomen's Road Race T1-2
, Liesl TeschSailingSKUD 18 – 2 person keelboat
, Jonathon Harris, Colin HarrisonSailingSonar – 3 person keelboat
, Chris Bond, Cameron Carr, Andrew Edmondson,
Nazim Erdem, Ben Fawcett, Andrew Harrison, Josh Hose, Jason Lees,
Matt Lewis, Ryan Scott, Jayden Warn
Wheelchair RugbyWheelchair Rugby
AthleticsMen's 1500 m T38
AthleticsWomen's Long Jump T38
AthleticsMen's 100m T38

Multiple medallists

The following Australian athletes won multiple medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games:
NameMedalSportEvent
Wheelchair tennisMen's quad doubles
Wheelchair tennisMen's quad singles
AthleticsWomen's 4x400m Relay - T53-54
AthleticsWomen's 100 m T53
AthleticsWomen's 400 m T53
CyclingMen's individual pursuit C4
CyclingMen's road time trial C4
SwimmingWomen's 4 x 100m freestyle relay 34 points
SwimmingWomen's 100 metre backstroke S9
SwimmingWomen's 4 x 100m Medley Relay 34 points
SwimmingWomen's 400 metre freestyle S9
SwimmingWomen's 50 metre freestyle S9
SwimmingWomen's 100 metre freestyle S9
CyclingWomen's road race T1–2
CyclingWomen's road time trial T1-2
AthleticsWomen's 800 m T53
AthleticsWomen's 4x400m Relay - T53-54
CyclingMen's individual pursuit C5
CyclingMen's road time trial C5
SwimmingMen's 100 metre freestyle S9
SwimmingMen's 50 metre freestyle S9
SwimmingMen's 200 m Individual Medley S9
SwimmingWomen's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay 34 points
SwimmingWomen's 50 metre freestyle S8
SwimmingWomen's 100 metre freestyle S8
SwimmingWomen's 100 metre backstroke S8
SwimmingWomen's 4 x 100 metre medley relay 34 points
AthleticsMen's Marathon - T54
AthleticsMen's 5000m - T54
SwimmingMen's 400 m freestyle S9
SwimmingMen's 100 m freestyle S9
SwimmingMen's 100 m backstroke S9
AthleticsWomen's 100m - T35
AthleticsWomen's 200m - T35
AthleticsWomen's 4×100m relay - T35-38
AthleticsMen's 100m - T34
AthleticsMen's 800m - T34
SwimmingWomen's 4 x 100 metre freestyle relay 34 points
SwimmingWomen's 400 metre freestyle S8
SwimmingWomen's 50 metre freestyle S8
SwimmingWomen's 100 metre freestyle S8
SwimmingWomen's 4 x 100 metre medley relay 34 points
SwimmingWomen's 200 metre individual medley SM8
Susan PowellCyclingWomen's individual pursuit C4
Susan PowellCyclingWomen's road time trial C4
SwimmingWomen's 100m Breaststroke SM6
SwimmingWomen's 50 metre butterfly S6
SwimmingWomen's 50 metre freestyle S6
SwimmingWomen's 200 metre individual medley SM6

Team

List of team members as of 17 September 2016.
In the by discipline sections below, medallists' names are bolded.
* – Indicates the athlete competed in preliminaries but not the final relay.
SportMenWomenTotalParalympics
debut
Archery1011
Athletics23224520
Boccia1122
Cycling87156
Equestrian0443
Goalball0661
Paracanoe3366
Paratriathlon3476
Rowing4485
Sailing5160
Shooting4262
Swimming21153622
Table tennis2353
Wheelchair basketball120125
Wheelchair rugby120124
Wheelchair tennis4152
Total1037317688

Australia was given additional qualification slots in the sports of goalball, athletics and wheelchair tennis after Russia was suspended from the Games by the International Paralympic Committee. Two athletes from the original team of 178 did not attend - Emily Tapp due to injury and Michael Gallager due to doping violation.
Several team members have changed their previous Paralympic sports at these Games: Dylan Alcott, Jessica Gallagher, Daniela Di Toro and Claire McLean.

Events

Archery

earned Australia a spot at the Rio Games following his performance at the 2015 World Archery Para Championships and he was selected to make his debut in the Australian team on 29 July 2016.
Officials - Head Coach/ Team Leader - Ricci Cheah

Athletics

Australian Paralympic Committee announced a team of 44 athletes on 2 August 2016. An additional two athletes - Tamsin Colley and Jessee Wyatt were added after the Russian suspension. Emily Tapp was selected but forced to withdraw after a burnt leg did not heal in time for the Games.
MenWomen
Sam Carter, Aaron Chatman, Jaryd Clifford, Gabriel Cole, Richard Colman, Brayden Davidson, Guy Henly, Todd Hodgetts, Nicholas Hum, Kurt Fearnley, Deon Kenzie, Jake Lappin, Rheed McCracken, Sam McIntosh, Evan O'Hanlon, Chad Perris, Scott Reardon, Michael Roeger, Jayden Sawyer, Russell Short, Brad Scott, James Turner, Jessee Wyatt Rae Anderson, Angie Ballard, Carlee Beattie, Erin Cleaver, Tamsin Colley, Brianna Coop, Christie Dawes, Madison de Rozario, Taylor Doyle, Jodi Elkington-Jones, Louise Ellery, Nicole Harris, Madeleine Hogan, Isis Holt, Torita Isaac, Claire Keefer, Rosemary Little, Brydee Moore, Jemima Moore, Ella Pardy, Kath Proudfoot, Sarah Walsh

Paralympic Games debut

Officials - Administration - Team Leader - Andrew Faichney, Team Managers -Lynda Gusbeth, Amy Hibbert ; Coaches - Iryna Dvoskina, Brett Robinson, Sebastian Kuzminski, Gary Bourne, Phio Saunders, Louise Sauvage, Fred Periac, John Eden, Hamish MacDonald, Breanne Clement, Andrew Dawes; Medical - Team Doctor - Lisa Elkington, Physiotherapists - Victoria Moore, Bernadette Petzel, Cameron Elliott, Soft Tissue Therapists - Phillip Power, Michael Jordan, Carers - Kate McIntosh, Stephen Caddy, Mechanic - Matthew Crawford.
Australia won 26 medals – 3 gold, 9 silver and 14 bronze. Gold medalists were – Brayden Davidson, Scott Reardon and James Turner. Russell Short attended his 8th Games, Christine Dawes her 6th Games and Kurt Fearnley his fifth Games.

Track events - women

Track events - men

Field events - women

Field events - men

Legend: Q= Qualified for final; OC= Oceania Record; PR= Paralympic Record; WR= World Record

Boccia

Australia selected Daniel Michel and his ramp assistant Ashlee McClure for their debut Games. Michel is the first player since the 2000 Sydney Paralympics

Officials - Head Coach - Ken Halliday ; Ramp assistant - Ashlee McClure.

Cycling

The cycling team was announced on 30 May 2016. The team consisted of 13 athletes and three sighted pilots: For Modra, this would be his eighth Paralympic Games. Michael Gallagher was originally selected but on 2 September 2016 he was withdrawn from the team due to a positive doping test sample.
MenWomen
Kieran Modra, David Nicholas, Stuart Tripp, Kyle Bridgwood, Alistair Donohoe, Matthew Formston, David Edwards , Nick Yallouris Jessica Gallagher, Carol Cooke, Simone Kennedy, Alexandra Lisney, Sue Powell, Amanda Reid, Madison Janssen

Officials - Administration: Team Leader - Murray Lydeamore, Assistant Team Leader - Berthy May ; Coaches - Peter Day, Thomas Skulander, Nick Formosa, Jason Niblett ; Other - Physiotherapist - Eliza Kwan, Mechanics - Michael Winter, Will Dickeson
Paralympic Games debut
;Track Events — Women
;Track Events — Men
;Track Events — Mixed
;Road Events — Women
AthleteEventTimeRank
Carol CookeWomen's road time trial T1-226:11.40
Carol CookeWomen's road race T1-21:07:51
Simone KennedyWomen's road time trial C1-334:31.3210
Simone KennedyWomen's road race C1-31:30:498
Alexandra LisneyWomen's road time trial C430:28.394
Alexandra LisneyWomen's road race C4-52:22:567
Susan PowellWomen's road time trial C430:19.29
Susan PowellWomen's road race C4-52:25:509
Amanda ReidWomen's road time trial C1-335:55.8111
Amanda ReidWomen's road race C1-31:39:1211

;Road Events — Men
AthleteEventTimeRank
Kyle BridgwoodMen's road time trial C438:23.21
Kyle BridgwoodMen's road race C4-52:15:416
Alistair DonohoeMen's road time trial C437:33.36
Alistair DonohoeMen's road race C4-52:14:035
Matthew Formston
Men's road time trial B36:55.2513
Matthew Formston
Men's road race B2:41:4813
Kieran Modra
Men's road time trial B35:09.06
Kieran Modra
Men's road race B2:27:155
David NicholasMen's road time trial C340:15.964
David NicholasMen's road race C1-31:51:485
Stuart TrippMen's road time trial H528:36.81
Stuart TrippMen's road race H51:37:517

Equestrian

On 28 June 2014, four riders were selected.

Women - Emma Booth, Sharon Jarvis, Lisa Martin, Katie Umback

Officials - Team Leader - Sally Francis ; Head Coach - Julia Battams ; Physiotherapist - Victoria Kahn ; Veterinarian - Denis Goulding ; Grooms - Shahira Ameen, Emma Bardot, Sam Moran, Maddison McAndrew ; Carer - Raelene Booth
Paralympic Games debut
;Individual competition
;Team competition

Goalball

The Australian women's team originally failed to qualify after finishing third at the IBSA Goalball Asia Pacific Championships in Hangzhou, China. Australian men's team failed to qualify after finishing fifth at the IBSA Goalball Asia Pacific Championships in Hangzhou, China. Following the re-allocation of Russia's spot, Australia's women found themselves getting a last minute invite to Rio. Australia's women enter the tournament ranked ninth in the world.
Officials - Team Leader - Robert Vogt ; Coach - Peter Corr

Paracanoeing

On 16 June 2016, six athletes were selected to compete in the new Paralympic Games sport of paracanoe.
Officials - Team Leader - Christine Bain ; Coaches - Andrea King , Guy Power ; Physiotherapist - Melissa Nolan

Paralympic Games debut

Paratriathlon

Australian Paralympic Committee announced a team of seven athletes on 3 August 2016. Paratriathlon makes its debut at the Rio Games.
MenWomen
Nic Beveridge, Bill Chaffey, Brant Garvey Kate Doughty, Katie Kelly, Michellie Jones for Kelly, Claire McLean

Officials - Team Leader - Kathryn Periac ; Assistant Team Leader/Coach - Craig Redman ; Coaches - Corey Bacon, Shaun D’Auria ; Michael Brice - Mechanic/ Handler ; Handler - Darren Tattersall
Paralympic Games debut
;Women's Events
AthleteEventSwimTrans 1BikeTrans 2RunTotal TimeRank
Kate DoughtyWomen's PT411:421:1828.090:5323.481:15:505
Claire McLeanWomen's PT415:091:3537.121:0924:411:19:469
Katie Kelly
Michellie Jones
Women's PT516:091:2433:150:5310:371:12:18

;Men's Events
AthleteEventSwimTrans 1BikeTrans 2RunTotal TimeRank
Bill ChaffeyMen's PT111:211:2737.170.4812.081:03:014
Nic BeveridgeMen's PT111:571:4342:551:0013:001:10:359
Brant GarveyMen's PT210:451:3640:401:5624:241:19:2110

Rowing

On 11 July 2016, Australian Paralympic Committee announced a team of 8 athletes. Australia will have a boat in the Legs, Trunk and Arms Mixed Coxed Four for the first time.
MenWomen
Gavin Bellis, Erik Horrie, Brock Ingram, Jeremy McGrath Josephine Burnand , Davinia Lefroy, Kathleen Murdoch, Kathryn Ross

Officials - Coaches - Gordon Marcks, Tara Huntly, Jason Baker; Team Leader - Dean Oakman; Boatman - Chris O'Brien
Paralympic Games debut

Qualification Legend: FA=Final A ; FB=Final B ; R=Repechage

Sailing

Selected team of 6 athletes - Matthew Bugg, Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch, Colin Harrison, Russell Boaden, Jonathan Harris. This will be the last Games for sailing has been taken off the 2020 Tokyo Games program.
Officials - Team Leader - Mark Robinson, Assistant Team Leader - Shellee Ferguson ; Coaches - Grant Alderson, Geoff Woolley, Richard Scarr ; ; Boatmen - Andrew Lechte, Tim Lowe, Physiotherapist - Sarah Ross, Carer - Ryoko Yamaguchi.

Shooting

Shooting Australia nominated six athletes in May 2016. Libby Kosmala was selected for her twelfth Games. The team was missing Paralympian Ashley Adams who was killed in 2015 accident.
MenWomen
Luke Cain, Bradley Mark, Chris Pitt, Anton Zappelli
Libby Kosmala, Natalie Smith

Officials - Head Coach - Miro Sipek, Team Leader - Tim Mahon, Assistant Coach - Margaret Bugden, Carers - Yvonne Cain, Stuart Smith, Maragret Zubcic
Paralympic Games debut
Australia did not win any medals. Australia's best placing was Christopher Pitt's fourth.

Swimming

36 athletes were selected on 1 August 2016. Three athletes were selected for their fourth Games - Matthew Levy, Jeremy McClure and Rick Pendleton 22 athletes were selected for their debut Paralympics with two 14-year olds Tiffany Thomas-Kane and Katja Dedekind being selected.
MenWomen
Joshua Alford, Michael Anderson, Jesse Aungles, Liam Bekric, Blake Cochrane, Rowan Crothers, Timothy Disken, Daniel Fox, Matthew Haanappel, Brenden Hall, Guy Harrison-Murray, Timothy Hodge, Braedan Jason, Ahmed Kelly, Matthew Levy, Jeremy McClure, Rick Pendleton, Logan Powell, Sean Russo, Liam Schulter, Jacob Templeton Emily Beecroft, Ellie Cole, Katja Dedekind, Maddison Elliott, Tanya Huebner, Jenna Jones, Paige Leonhardt, Ashleigh McConnell, Monique Murphy, Lakeisha Patterson, Madeleine Scott, Tiffany Thomas Kane, Rachael Watson, Prue Watt, Kate Wilson

Officials - Team Leader - Adam Pine ; Coaches -Head Coach - Brendan Keogh ; Coaches - Angelo Basalo, Jan Cameron, Harley Connolly, Nathan Doyle, Lachlan Falvey, Rick Van Der Zant, Yuriy Vdovychenko ; Assistant Team Leaders - Michelle Doyle, Ian Armbruster, Sports science - Brendan Burkett, Biomechanist - Danielele Formosa, Team Doctor - Caron Jander, Physiotherapists - David Spurrier, Brett Doring, Soft Tissue Therapists - Jacqui Gilbert, Samantha Short, Psychologist - Thomas Tapper, Carer - Jeanette Phillips-Hughes


Australian won 29 medals including 10 gold. Maddison Elliott won three gold and Lakeisha Patterson and Ellie Cole won two gold.

Paralympic Games debut

Men's events

Women's events

Mixed events

Legend: Q= Qualified for final; OC= Oceania Record; PR= Paralympic Record; WR= World Record

Table tennis

Five athletes were selected to represent Australia. Daniela Di Toro previously represented Australia in wheelchair tennis and Melissa Tapper was set to become the first Australian to compete at both the Summer Paralympics and Summer Olympics in the same year.
MenWomen
Barak Mizrachi, Samuel Von Einem Daniela Di Toro, Melissa Tapper, Andrea McDonnell

Officials - Head Coach - Alois Rosario ; Team Leader - Roger Massie

Samuel Von Einem in winning the silver medal won Australia's first medal since Terry Biggs won gold in 1984.
= Paralympic Games debut
;Men's tournament
;Women's tournament

Wheelchair basketball

Men's tournament

The Rollers qualified by winning the 2015 Asia Oceania Qualifying Tournament. On 19 July 2016, the APC announced a team of twelve players with five of them making their Paralympic debut. During the draw, Brazil had the choice of which group they wanted to be in. They were partnered with Spain, who would be in the group Brazil did not select. Brazil chose Group B, which included Iran, the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Algeria. That left Spain in Group A with Australia, Canada, Turkey, the Netherlands and Japan.
;Team roster
Josh Allison, Jannik Blair, Adam Deans, Tristan Knowles, Bill Latham, Matthew McShane, Brad Ness, Shaun Norris, Tom O'Neill-Thorne, Shawn Russell, Tige Simmons, Brett Stibners

Officials - Coaches - Ben Ettridge, Luke Brennan, Tom Kyle, Jeremy Synot ; Program Manager - Leigh Gooding ; Health Coordinator & Team Physiotherapist - - Jesse Adams
Paralympic Games debut
;Group play standings
;Quarter finals
;5th - 6th Classification

Women's tournament

The Gliders did not qualify after finishing second to China at the 2015 Asia Oceania Qualifying Tournament.

Wheelchair rugby

Australia won the 2014 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships, thereby automatically qualifying to defend the Paralympic title they won in London. On 25 July 2016, the APC announced a team of 12 players. Australia entered the tournament ranked number two in the world.
Men
Ryley Batt, Chris Bond, Cameron Carr, Andrew Edmondson, Nazim Erdem, Ben Fawcett, Andrew Harrison, Josh Hose, Jason Lees, Matt Lewis, Ryan Scott, Jayden Warn

Officials – Coaches - Brad Dubberley ; Greg Smith,Nick Sanders , William Roberts, Darren Pickering , Scott Curtis

Paralympic Games debut
;Semi-finals
; Gold medal match

Wheelchair tennis

Selected team of 4 athletes on 28 July 2016. Sarah Calati was added to the team as a result of Russia's selection. Ben Weekes was competing at his fourth Games and wheelchair basketball gold medallist Dylan Alcott was competing in wheelchair tennis for the first time. Sarah Calati was a late inclusion due to the banning of the Russian team.
MenWomen
Dylan Alcott, Heath Davidson, Ben Weekes, Adam KellermanSarah Calati

Officials - Coaches - Vernon Cheung, Franscois Vogelsberger ; Team Leader - Brenda Tierney

' Paralympic Games debut
;Men's tournament
;Women's tournament
'= Paralympic Games debut

Administration and support

Team Executive – Kate McLoughlin , Paul Bird, Phil Borgeaud, Chris Nunn
Media Team – Tim Mannion, Sascha Ryner, Margie McDonald , Gennie Sheer , Amanda Shalala, Alexandra Factor , Neil Cross , Alice Wheeler, Brett Frawley, Simon Christie, Jeff Crow, Jacqueline Chartres
Medical Staff -

Broadcasting

The Australian Paralympic Committee purchased the broadcast rights to the Socchi Winter and Rio Summer Games for less than $400,000. It then sold the rights to the Seven Network. Previously the Australian Broadcasting Corporation broadcast the Games. Seven Network broadcast the Games on 7Two as well as via digital channels, including the 7Live app. There were 20 per cent more hours broadcast than the London Paralympics. Broadcast statistics included:
Major advertisers and sponsors were: Optus, Samsung, Visa Inc, Swisse, Woolworths Supermarkets and Toyota.