In the lead up to the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games, WA Para-Triathlete Brant Garvey became one of the state’s most recognisable athletes through his noXcuses brand and via his corporate sponsorship with HBF.
Brant was born without a left leg – above the knee, yet his story of sporting and personal triumph has become as synonymous as his trademark smile. Garvey taught himself to run in his adult years, going on to complete Ironman competitions and win medals in elite Para-Triathlons the world over.
His success and approachability has made him one of Western Australia’s most passionate and popular disability advocates, whilst a strong social media following and gifted ability to relate to peers, has cultivated him a regular on the state’s speaking circuits.
Despite being in the form of his life ahead of Brazil, an unexpected injury cruelled his performance on debut, but as he reflected to InsideWAIS recently, it has not affected his zest for competition or dented his positive can-do attitude.
- Take us inside the moment you learned that you would represent Australia at a Paralympic Games?
I couldn’t believe that I had completed the final chapter in a life-long dream. I remember being a kid watching the Olympics (didn’t know there was a difference back then) screaming at Kieren Perkins competing. I also sent him some fan mail… never heard back though 🙁
- You seemed in great shape for Rio?
I was training over in the Gold Coast for eight weeks prior to the Games and what this taught me was perspective. I thought I was training hard in Perth and I was, but it didn’t compare to what I was then doing on the Gold Coast. I had never worked harder for anything in my life. I could sleep on demand!!
- Was there a Disneyland moment when you reached the Athlete Village?
Wow… everything about the Village was amazing. I didn’t really have any expectations. I just wanted to experience everything the Games had to offer. There were little finishes that weren’t done, but I didn’t care, I just wanted to be there racing the best athletes in the world at the largest competition in the world.
- Was there a highlight from that perspective?
Getting to meet and mingle with all the members of the Australian Paralympic Team.
- What was the accommodation arrangement like?
I shared a room with my good mate Nic Beveridge. We are the perfect roommates as we are both pretty relaxed and get ready for a race in a very positive head space. Don’t get me wrong though, we pay each other out constantly!
- How was the head space leading into the race?
Confident. I had never worked harder and the PB’s leading into the race were proving it. My only goal leading into the event was to get a PB and I knew I could.
- Obviously an injury mid-race prevented that. What was running through your mind at the finish?
Devastated and frustrated. I trained three years for this race and out of the blue I get injured with no sign of how or why! This had never happened to me before.
- Despite the disappointment, was there a bright light moment?
It would have to be the short time I was leading the Men’s PT2 Triathlon race.
- Competition aside, what did the Brazil experience offer you?
After my race I went to the Amazon for a few days with my wife and a couple of friends. We went Piranha fishing which was interesting, I caught five, including the biggest* and then we ate them for dinner that night. We also got to hang out with baby monkeys and hike through the Amazon.
I was fortunate to watch other athletes compete, including seeing the men’s wheelchair basketball team against Brazil, unfortunately they were defeated. I also watched the men’s wheelchair rugby team take gold, which was awesome!
- Did you snare any souvenirs from your time in Rio?
Just one which was the official Brazil Paralympic one dollar coin.
- Would you ever like to go back to Rio again?
Yes actually, I would love to go back to Rio and see the sights, it is just such a beautiful place.
*(InsideWAIS) Sure you did Brant, sure you did…
