After competing internationally for more than two decades, wheelchair racer Christie Dawes has rightfully earned a reputation for being one of the fiercest competitors in the game.

She first became eligible to compete in Paralympic sport as a 10-year-old, when – just 11 months after her dad had taken his own life – she became a paraplegic in a car accident. It was a horror couple of years for Christie’s little family of three, and only through the boundless support of her mum, Roslyn, did Christie go on to make her Paralympic debut in 1996.

Seven Paralympic Games have since passed, and in that time, Christie achieved three Paralympic podiums – two silver, one bronze – and two world titles from the 1998 International Paralympic Committee Athletics World Championships.

And had a baby – her son, Charlie, with husband and coach Andrew Dawes. Incredibly, Christie returned to the track just …

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Date of birth
3 May 1980
Sport
Para-athletics
Past Paralympic Games

Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008, London 2012, Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020

Impairment
Physical Impairment – Paraplegia
How acquired
Car accident
Residence
Merewether, NSW
Occupation
Athlete
First competed for Australia
1996
Sport career highlights

Winning a bronze medal in the 1999 Peachtree Road Race, and placing fifth at the 2003 Boston and Berlin Marathons

Greatest sporting moments

Winning a silver medal in the women’s 4x100m T53/54 at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, and placing third at the 2008 New York City Marathon

Heroes/role models

Her mum, Oprah Winfrey

Disciplines

  • Sport: Para-athletics Discipline: 1500m Classification: T54
  • Sport: Para-athletics Discipline: 5000m Classification: T54
  • Sport: Para-athletics Discipline: 4x400m Classification: T54
  • Sport: Para-athletics Discipline: Marathon Classification: T54

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