Paralympic Games: Seven NSW athletes selected

16 July 2024

Paralympic Games: Seven NSW athletes selected

Seven NSW athletes were today named by the Australian Paralympic Committee in the Australian team for the Paris Paralympic Games. They are members of the 32-member Track and Field team for the Games to be held 28 August to 8 September.

The NSW contingent are a mix of experienced campaigners and emerging stars, named on this team for the pinnacle event for any para-athlete.

On debut is Sydney’s Mali Lovell, 20, who will be hoping to match her silver medal winning effort last year in Paris at the world championships. She contests the T36 100m and 200m.

A very pleasing surprise was the selection of Sutherland’s Telaya Blacksmith in the T20 400m. The short sprinter and long jumper had to move up the distance, and all season chased the standard, eventually nailing it at a meet in Blacktown.

Three-time World Para Athletics Championships medallist, Rosemary Little will compete in the F32 shot put at her fourth Paralympics – her first was in London in 2012.

Newcastle-based Luke Bailey, who was fifth in his 100m heat at the Tokyo Paralympics, will again compete in the 100m in Paris.

One of the most experienced NSW athletes on the team is Canberra-based Sutherland athlete, Sarah Walsh. The leg amp, T64 long jumper, is selected for her third Paralympics. She will be in search of a podium finish after placing third, fourth and fifth at the last three World Para-Athletics Championships.

Former Queenslander, Rheed McCracken, would be less familiar to the NSW athletics community, but the 27-year-old has a long and impressive record in para-athletics. He is named on his fourth Paralympic Games team. A T34 classified athlete will compete in the 100m and 800m.

On debut at the Paralympics, but with the experience of a Commonwealth Games and world championships behind her is Sarah Clifton-Bligh who will compete alongside Rosemary Little in the T33 shot put. 

We also recognise the selections of former NSW-based Angie Ballard, now returned to her home in Canberra, Sydney-based WA athlete, Madison de Rozario, and former NSW athlete Guy Henly, now located in Melbourne.

NSW members of the athletics selection of Australian Team for the 2024 Paralympic Games:

MEN (2)

100m:                  Rheed McCracken (T34, Macquarie Hunter, Louise Sauvage), Luke Bailey (T54, Adamstown, Andrew Dawes)

800m:                  McCracken

WOMEN (5)

100m                    Mali Lovell (T36, UTS Norths, Katie Edwards and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor)

200m:                  Lovell

400m:                  Telaya Blacksmith (T20, Sutherland, Jacinta Doyle)

Long Jump:          Sarah Walsh (T64, Sutherland, Matt Beckenham)

Shot Put:             Sarah Clifton-Bligh (T33, Sydney Uni, Louise Sauvage), Rosemary Little (T33, Hills, Blanche Herbert),

David Tarbotton for Athletics NSW

Image: Paralympian Telaya Blacksmith (image courtesy of David Tarbotton)