Media Release by Senator the Hon Jan McLucas

Australia continues golden start at the Paralympics

Joint Media Release with:

  • Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Minister for Disability Reform
  • Senator Kate Lundy, Minister for Sport, Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Minister Assisting for Industry and Innovation

Three gold medals in the pool topped off another golden night at the 2012 Paralympic Games for Australia.

On day two our Aussie athletes won another 10 medals including four gold, one silver and five bronze. The Australian team has now amassed an impressive total of 19 medals.

Our swim team made a big splash in the pool picking up an extra seven medals including three gold, one silver and three bronze medals to boost our medal tally.

Our youngest Paralympian, 13-year-old Maddison Elliott won bronze in the S8 400m freestyle event shaving 23 seconds off her personal best time to make the podium. Maddison has raced into the history book as Australia’s youngest Paralympic medallist.

Australian swimmers collected two more bronze medals in the pool with Andrew Pasterfield finishing third in the men’s 50m freestyle S10 and Timothy Antalfy making the podium in the men’s 100m butterfly S13.

Corry Taylor added silver to Australia’s medal haul in the pool, finishing second in the women’s 100m backstroke S14.

Australia now has two medals in athletics after LOCOG organisers conceded an error in the women’s discus F35-36. A bronze medal was awarded to Canberra’s Kath Proudfoot as a result. Rosemary Little later claimed Australia’s second athletics medal winning bronze in the women’s 100m T34.

Australia picked up our fourth gold medal in the Velodrome with cyclist Felicity Johnson and pilot Stephanie Morton blitzing the track to take gold ahead of hosts Great Britain. Australia now leads the medal tally for track cycling.

Our Aussie rowing crews came third in their heats and will contest the repechage tomorrow.

The Aussie Gilders have continued their winning streak to defeat host Great Britain 51 – 21.

Our Australian women’s goalball team were defeated by Japan 3-1.

These results give Australia an excellent start at the London Games. We now sit fourth on the overall medal tally – with 19 medals, including seven gold.