We recently celebrated the closing of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games; it was certainly a challenging journey for our athletes on the road to Tokyo.
However, their hard work and determination paid off with Australia finishing the games in sixth place with a total of 46 medals!
Our athletes secured 17 gold medals (Our equal best ever medal hall with Athens), seven silver and 22 bronze. I congratulate all our Olympians for their outstanding success and achievements throughout these games.
The celebrations are not over yet! The Australian Paralympic Team will be in Tokyo proudly representing our country from August 24 to September 5 competing in the 16th Summer Paralympic Games.
The Paralympic Games gives the world an opportunity to witness the incredible talents of our Olympic athletes in the world of disability sports. Paralympics Australia believe that participation in sport provides positive social and physical benefits to people with disabilities.
It also plays a key role in changing our community perceptions of people with disabilities.
Australia has a team of 361 athletes, officials and staff attending the Tokyo Paralympic Games, including one of our own locals Natalie Smith.
Natalie will compete in the para-shooting events over in Tokyo. This will be Natalie’s third Olympic Games, previously competing in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the 2012 London Olympic Games, where she won a bronze medal for Australia in the women’s 10m air rifle standing R2 SH1 event.
I wish Natalie and the entire Australian Paralympic team the best of luck as they take on Tokyo. I encourage you all to ‘Join AUS Squad’, the official cheer squad of the Australian Paralympic Team so you too can cheer on our Aussie athletes. You can join “Aus Squad” for free via aussquad.org.au.
