Jack Swift is as laid-back as they come. A typical laconic, Aussie bloke working as a labourer in his home town of Melbourne, his world turned upside down when in 2006 his right leg was crushed by a 14 tonne excavator, severing it below the knee.

After having extensive skin grafts to save his knee and months of rehabilitation, Jack started to walk in the hydrotherapy pool and began to feel like he was finally accomplishing something. Slowly, he learned how to walk again and while recovering was introduced to triple Paralympic athletics star Don Elgin, who encouraged him to take up Paralympic sport.

Already a keen sportsman, Jack rose to the challenge and since training with coach and Paralympic gold medallist Tim Matthews in 2009, running has made him feel alive again. Jack made his first Australian team to compete at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships in New Zealand where he finished fourth in the 400m. The T44 class is known for its high level of competition and sees Jack line up against South African world champion, Oscar ‘blade runner’ Pistorius, who competed in the able-bodied 2011 IAAF World Championships.

Describing himself as dedicated and a perfectionist, sport plays an important role in Jack’s life. While studying exercise science, he also works as a personal trainer and enjoys cycling, swimming, golf, fishing and passionately following Collingwood in the AFL.

The thrill of competition, staying fit and the ultimate goal of competing at the London 2012 Paralympic Games motivate Jack when training for the 100m, 200m, 400m and relays. He looks well on track, having won two gold medals and two bronze at the 2011 Arafura Games in addition to a silver and bronze medal at the 2011 National Athletics Championships. He is currently working hard at building his endurance and improving his symmetry on his amputated side to avoid fatigue.

Off the track, Jack’s good looks have landed him several magazine spreads and much notoriety amongst his athletics team mates. In 2010 he was named Nivea Face of the Year and was a finalist in the 2010 Men’s Health Man Competition, while in 2011 he was a Cleo Bachelor of the Year finalist.