Paris Paralympics
Monday, August 26, 2024
Only a few days now until the Paris 2024 Paralympics are underway.
Sport Access Foundation has always had the philosophy of improving inclusion and enabling a pathway from grassroots to elite for all young Australians with disability. There are many wonderful examples of our Honour Roll going on to achieve their own sporting goals. With Paris only days away, we are honoured to share that six of our Honour Roll members, all of whom received our marquee Pathway to Paralympic grant have made the Australian Paralympic Team for Paris.
2017 Honour Roll Member
Col Pearse - Swimming
Age 20. Classification S10.
Echuca, VIC
Studying: Bachelor of Social Media in Melbourne
Coach: Matt King, Melbourne
Interesting fact: Sport Access Foundation inaugural Grant recipient + Swam in his parent's country dam during COVID lockdowns.
Results:
2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London. Won Bronze in 100m Butterfly
2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Won Bronze in 100m Butterfly.
2022 World Para Swimming Championships in Madeira. Won Silver medals in both 100m Butterfly and 200m Individual Medley.
2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Won Gold medal in 100m Butterfly.
2023 World Para Swimming Championships in Manchester. Won Bronze medal in 100m Butterfly and Silver in 200m Individual Medley.
2024 Paris Paralympics
2018 Honour Roll Member
Dayna Crees - Swimming
Age 22. Classification F34 (Javelin) F34 (Shotput).
Berwick, VIC
Club: Casey Cardina Athletics Club
Coach: Gordon Talbot, Victorian Institute of Sport, Melbourne
Interesting fact: At the age of twelve, her physiotherapist recommended she take up athletics. She applied for a Sport Access Foundation grant in 2018 so that “Dad could help build my Throwing Chair using material from Bunnings”.
Australian Youth Records (still holds) in long jump records, she’s excelled in throwing as she transitioned to seated competitions
Australian F34 classification, she holds every Australian U15 to Open Record in Shot Put, Discus and Javelin
2019: Arafura Games in Darwin, Third place in Javelin
2023: Victorian open championships, Australian record Javelin throw of 16.25m.
2023: Broke the Australian and Oceania records in Javelin F34 in her World Championship debut finishing 4th.
2019 Honour Roll Member
Jamieson Leeson - Boccia
Age 21. Teams and BC3
Dunedoo, NSW
Studying: Bachelor of Economics, UNSW
Coach: Ken Halliday, NSWIS, Sydney.
Interesting fact: 16 years of age, she was the youngest person ever to represent Australia.
Results:
2020 Tokyo Paralympics. Teams event.
2022 World Boccia Championships, Rio de Janiero. Gold medal in the Teams Event. Qualified for Final Women's Single BC3
2024 Paris Paralympics
2020 Honour Roll Member
Keira Stephens - Swimming
Age 21. Classification SB9/10
Hervey Bay, QLD
Studying: Bachelor of Social Work, University Southern Queensland
Coach: Glen Baker, Gold Coast
Interesting fact: Born in England.
Results:
2018 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships in Cairns. Silver medal in 100m Breaststroke
2019 World Para Swimming Championships in London.
2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
2022 World Para Swim Championships in Madeira. Gold medal in 4 x 100m IM relay and 100m Breaststroke.
2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Bronze medal in 200m IM.
2023 World Para Swim Championships in Manchester. Bronze medal in the 100m Breaststroke.
2024 Paris Paralympics
2021 Jack Howell - Para-triathlon
Age 21. Classification PTS5
Melbourne, VIC
Studying: Bachelor of Education, MelbourneCoach: Brendan Sexton, Gold Coast
Interesting fact: Now based in QLD, won the 2024 QLD Triathlon Male Para-triathlete of the Year Award.
Results:
2022 - Oceania Triathlon Junior Cup in Devenport. Finished 20th
2022 - Oceania Para-triathlon Championships in Stockton. Finished 2nd.
2022 - National Para-triathlon Championships in Newcastle. Finished 1st.
2022 - Oceania Triathlon Junior Cup in Werribee. Finished 26th
2022 - World Triathlon Para Cup A in Coruna. Finished 3rd.
2022 - World Triathlon Para Series in Montreal. Finished 4th.
2022 - World Para-triathlon Championships in Abu Dhabi. Finished 7th
2023 - Oceania Para-triathlon Championships in Stockton. Finished 2nd.
2023 - World Para-triathlon series in Devonport. Finished 2nd.
2023 - World Para-triathlon series in Yokohama. Finished 2nd.
2023 - World Para-triathlon series in Montreal. Finished 6th.
2023 - World Para-triathlon series in Swansea. Finished 4th.
2023 - World Para-triathlon Cup in Paris. Finished 9th.
2023 - World Para-triathlon Championships in Pontevedra. Finished 6th
2024 - Oceania Para-triathlon Championships in Stockton. Finished 1st.
2024 - World Para-triathlon series in Devonport. Finished 1st.
2024 - World Para-triathlon series in Yokohama. Finished 6th.
2024- Paris Paralympics
2023 Grace Brimelow - Para-triathlon
Age 17. Classification PTS4
Sunshine Coast, QLD
School: Sunshine Coach Grammar
Coach: Charlie Barry, Sunshine Coast
Interesting fact: The youngest Para-triathlete to make the team and in her debut year of international competition remains undefeated, and the youngest Para-triathlete to win the QLD Triathlon Female Para-triathlete of the Year Award (in 2024).
2023 - Oceania Para-triathlon series in Busselton. Finished 1st.
2024 - Oceania Para-triathlon Championships in Stockton. Finished 1st.
2024 - World Para-triathlon series in Devonport. Finished 1st.
2024 - World Para Cup in Vigo. Finished 1st.
2024 - Paris Paralympics
Article image description:
The image includes the 6 athletes selected for Paris.
Kiera Stephens wearing a Paralympic Australia uniform and holding a medal from Tokyo
Jack Howell on his triathlon bike and wearing Triathlon Australia Racesuit
Grace Brimelow running, and in a Triathlon Australia Racesuit
Jamieson Leeson holding a Gold medal from the World Championships in Rio wearing an Australian uniform
Dayna Crees throwing a shotput, and wearing an Athletics Australia kit at the Oceania Championships
Col Pearse wearing a Paralympic Australia uniform and holding a Bronze medal from Tokyo
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