WAIS scholarship athlete Brant Garvey has officially qualified Australia a PT2 classification spot for the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, moving a significant step closer to achieving his own Paralympic dreams in the process.
Garvey finished second at the weekend ITU World Paratriathlon event in Penrith, successfully meeting the selection criteria to earn nomination to the Australian Paralympic Committee for official selection after he had secured Australia’s berth in the PT2 classification.
The Western Australian will earn nomination to the APC along with Bill Chaffey (PT1) and Kate Doughty (PT4) who won their respective categories in Penrith.
Doughty finished ahead of WAIS scholarship athlete Claire McLean, who finished in third place.
Garvey is now in line to make history for Australia as Paratriathlon is contested at Paralympic level for the first time, meaning he will likely represent Australia in its first ever Paralympic squad for the sport.
Paralympic coach Corey Bacon confirmed Triathlon Australia’s intention to nominate Garvey and his teammates for official selection.
“A few have cemented their spots for Rio. Obviously they will be nominated and put forward to the APC,” he said.
After completing the Penrith course in a time of 1:14.07, Garvey told reporters, “I got that second spot, which means now Australia has a spot for Rio, thank God.”
You can find out more about Brant Garvey and his journey to Rio via his personal website: www.brantgarvey.com
