With the Paralympic Games opening ceremony just two days away, 23 ACT athletes will be taking part as part of the Australian Paralympic Team.

The Paralympics will take place from 24 August to 5 September, with Australia sending its largest Australian Paralympic Team ever, with a contingent of 179 athletes competing across 18 sports.

Eighteen of the 23 local paralympians selected are current ACT Academy of Sport (ACTAS) supported athletes with many others relocating to the ACT to train.

The ACT athletes will be representing Australia across a range of sports including athletics, rowing, triathlon and swimming events.

Speaking on behalf of the ACT community, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Yvette Berry, wished “our athletes the best of luck as they make the journey to Tokyo”.

“I am sure Canberrans will be excited to be able to watch our Paralympians in action during the unfortunate but necessary ACT lockdown, and it will be a great source of inspiration to see our athletes perform,” Ms Berry said in a media statement.

“The ACT boasts some amazing athletes, including Angie Ballard, who will be competing in her sixth Paralympic Games in the T53 100m, 400 and 800m, an unbelievable achievement, and we wish her luck turning that dream of Paralympic gold into reality.

“ACTAS scholarship holder Eliza Ault-Connell will be competing in her second Paralympic Games, 17 years after she last represented Australia as a member of the Athens 2004 Paralympic Team. After putting her para-athletics career on hold in 2008 to start a family, it’s great to see her back in the green and gold competing for a medal in the T54 100m, 400m and the Marathon.”  

A total of nine ACT athletes will also be making their Paralympic debut in Tokyo.

“We would like to wish all our athletes and staff the best of luck at the Tokyo Paralympic Games. We look forward to cheering them on,” Ms Berry said.

ACTAS supported athletes

• Alissa Jordan – Athletics
• Angela Ballard – Athletics
• Ari Gesini – Athletics
• Chad Perris – Athletics
• Eliza Ault-Connell – Athletics
• James Turner – Athletics
• Jayden Sawyer – Athletics
• Jaydon Page – Athletics
• Samuel Carter – Athletics
• Samuel Harding – Athletics
• Sarah Walsh – Athletics
• Scott Reardon – Athletics
• Vanessa Low – Athletics
• Philo Saunders – Athletics (Guide)
• Kathryn Ross – Rowing
• Renae Domaschenz – Rowing (Coxswain)
• Nikki Ayers – Rowing
• Emily Tapp – Triathlon

ACT training-based athletes

• Evan O’Hanlon – Athletics
• Vincent Donnadieu – Athletics (Guide)
• Deon Kenzie – Athletics
• Jesse Aungles – Swimming
• Michael Roeger – Athletics