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Thirteen Australian Paralympic Team gold medallists from the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games have been recognised in the Australia Day Honours list, including wheelchair tennis champion Dylan Alcott, who was named Australian of the Year in Canberra on Tuesday.
Four swimmers, four cyclists and two table tennis champions were among those awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia after winning their first Paralympic gold medals at the Games last August (see list below). The list also featured Para-athlete Madison de Rozario, who at her fourth Games broke through to win two gold medals, including the marathon T54.
Three of the recipients, Para-athlete Vanessa Low and Para-table tennis players Qian Yang and Lina Lei, had previously won gold medals for their former home countries before winning for Australia for the first time in Tokyo.
Paralympics Australia Chief Executive Catherine Clark said the awards were richly deserved.
“On behalf of Paralympics Australia, I would like to congratulate each of the Paralympians who have been recognised for their exceptional achievements at Tokyo 2020,” Clark said.
“It’s fantastic for their triumphs to be recognised as part of the Australia Day Honours list.
“These Paralympians have each demonstrated incredible determination and represent the power of diversity and inclusion. Australians have been inspired by their exceptional performances on the world stage, but these awards also recognise the years of dedication and sacrifice behind each success.
“They are tremendous ambassadors for Para-sport and our nation and I’m incredibly proud of their extraordinary achievements.”
Australia won 21 gold, 29 silver and 30 bronze medals at Tokyo 2020, finishing eighth on the gold medal list and sixth overall.
Australian Paralympic Team honours:
Australian of the Year and Officer of the Order of Australia (AO):
Dylan Alcott (wheelchair tennis)
Gold – quad singles
Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM):
Rowan Crothers (Para-swimming)
Gold – 50m freestyle S10
Gold – 4x100m freestyle 34 points
Madison de Rozario (Para-athletics)
Gold – 800m T53
Gold – marathon T54
Paige Greco (Para-cycling)
Gold – pursuit C1-3
Benjamin Hance (Para-swimming)
Gold – 100m backstroke S14
Darren Hicks (Para-cycling)
Gold – road time trial C2
Lina Lei (Para-table tennis)
Gold – individual – Class 9
Vanessa Low (Para-athletics)
Gold – long jump T63
William Martin (Para-swimming)
Gold – 400m freestyle S9
Gold – 4x100m freestyle 34 points
Gold – 100m butterfly S9
Emily Petricola (Para-cycling)
Gold – individual pursuit C4
Ben Popham (Para-swimming)
Gold – 100m freestyle S8
Gold – 4x100m freestyle 34 points
Amanda Reid (Para-cycling)
Gold – 500m time trial C1-3
Qian Yang (Para-table tennis)
Gold – individual – Class 10
Gold – team C9-10
By: Paralympics Australia
Posted: 26 January 2022
