Griffith University is excited to announce the names of the students, alumni and coaching staff who will represent Australia at the upcoming Paralympics.
One of the three student athletes preparing to compete in Tokyo will be representing Australia for the first time and two of the six alumni will also make their debut.
Vice Chancellor and President Professor Carolyn Evans said Griffith was thrilled to play a part in helping so many Paralympic and Olympic athletes achieve personal bests and global accolades.
“We congratulate these elite athletes and coaching staff who have been selected to perform at the highest level for their country,” Professor Evans said.
“It takes both talent and dedication to reach this sporting milestone and represents years of hard work, sacrifice and commitment, particularly given the challenges of a pandemic.”
“Representing Australia on the world stage is a rare honour and we stand behind them as they give their all.”
Griffith Sports College Manager Naomi McCarthy OAM said their selection for Tokyo was the result of many years of training and dedication.
“Griffith student and alumni para athletes will represent Australia in Tokyo in the sports of canoe-sprint, athletics, swimming, taekwondo, wheelchair basketball and triathlon,” McCarthy said.
“They’re also joined by Griffith Sports College member and High Performance Rowing Coach Lincoln Handley, selected to coach the Australian PR2 Mixed Double Sculls.
“Many of these elite athletes have been part of the Griffith community for years, including Bachelor of Business student Madison De Rozario and Bachelor of Industrial Design alumnus Matt McShane.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have the chance to watch them pursue opportunities at the highest level and incredibly proud of the role Griffith Sports College has held in assisting these elite athletes to continue their training and competition commitments alongside study opportunities.
“The determination of these elite athletes to push themselves to the limits of human endeavour holds them in great stead for their careers after representative sport.”
Selected student athletes:
| Madison | De Rozario | Athletics (Para) | B Business |
| Curtis | McGrath | Canoe – Sprint (Para) | B Aviation |
| Tom | Gallagher | Swimming (Para) – Debut | B Business |
Selected alumni:
| Janine | Watson | Taekwondo (Para) – Debut | B Exercise Science/B Education |
| Ella | Sabljak | Wheelchair Basketball – Debut | B Education |
| Katie | Kelly | Para-Triathlon | B Leisure Management |
| Tom | O’Neill-Thorne | Wheelchair Basketball | B Int Business/ B Government & International Relations |
| Matthew | McShane | Wheelchair Basketball | B Industrial Design |
| Rowan | Crothers | Swimming (Para) | B Public Relations and Communications |
Selected coaching staff:
| Lincoln | Handley | Rowing Coach | Griffith Sports College Staff member / High Performance Rowing Coach |
The Paralympics start on 24 August and finish on 5 September.
They follow an incredibly successful Australian Olympic campaign which featured 34 Griffith student athletes and 9 alumni athletes, along with High Performance Swimming Squad coach Michael Bohl. Read more about their efforts online.