Your Guide to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics
In the lead-up to this year’s Paralympic games, we’ve done a roundup of some great Aussie athletes who will be competing in Tokyo. Australia is sending a whopping 179 athletes to compete in Tokyo this year, the largest ever to contest a Games overseas. All these athletes embody great strength and contribute to the continuing advancement towards a fairer and more inclusive society.
The 2020 Paralympics start on the 24th of August and will be broadcast on Channel 7 in Australia, or on the 7plus app.
Here are 4 Aussie athletes to watch:
Matt Levy
Sport: Para-swimming
Born at 15 weeks premature with cerebral palsy and vision impairment, Levy has survived over 50 operations on his brain, heart, lungs and ears. As part of the rehabilitation from his surgeries, Levy took up swimming as part of his rehabilitation and realised that he could take it competitive. Levy has seen great success in his career, competing in four Paralympic Games and bringing home multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals as we awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2014 for his service to sport as a Gold Medallist at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.
Matthew will be swimming from the 28th – 31st August in the 100m breaststroke, 4×100 freestyle and the 50m freestyle. Click here for more details.
Tiffany Thomas-Kane
Sport: Para-swimming
Tiffany Thomas Kane was born with a disability called Hypochondriasis, a form of short-limbed dwarfism. She started swimming at a young age as doctors thought it would be a good way to treat her muscles and build strength. She was just shy of 14 when she won a gold medal on debut at the 2015 International Paralympic Committee Para-swimming World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. Not only that, but she did it in world record time. During the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games – she won a gold medal in the women’s 100m breaststroke SB6 and a trio of bronze medals in the women’s 50m butterfly S6, women’s 50m freestyle S6 and women’s 200m individual medley SM6.
Tiffany will be swimming in the following events: 50m butterfly, 50m freestyle, 100m backstroke, 100m breaststroke, 100m freestyle, 200m individual medley, 4 x 50m freestyle. Click here for more details.
Dylan Alcott
Sport: Wheelchair tennis
Dylan was born with a tumour wrapped around his spinal cord, which was successfully removed, however left Alcott a paraplegic and requiring him to use a wheelchair. Wheelchair basketball-turned-wheelchair tennis star is already a seasoned veteran – having competed in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Paralympic games. Not only has he maintained a world No. 1 ranking, but recently became the first quad singles player to win the French Open and Wimbledon. He is joined at the Paralympics by Martyn Dunn, Heath Davidson and Benjamin Weekes.
Dylan will be competing in wheelchair tennis from the 27th August – 4th September. Click here for more details.
Shae Graham
Sport: Wheelchair Rugby
Shae is the first female athlete to represent Australian ‘Steelers’ in wheelchair rugby. When she was 18, she was a backseat passenger in a car crash. Shae fractured her spine and pelvis and suffered a brain injury and ruptured bladder. Shae makes her Paralympics debut this year, which has been a goal of hers still she started playing wheelchair rugby in 2014.
Shae will be competing at the games from the 25th August – 4th September. Click here for more details.
These are just 4 of the many amazing athletes that will represent our nation at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. We cannot wait for the action to begin!
For more information about the Paralympics, visit the official Paralympics Australia Website.
