Success for Western Australians in Rio
After a successful two weeks at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, Western Australia’s athletes have come away with a total of six medals.
Competition days nine and ten saw Western Australian sailors Russell Boaden and Colin Harrison compete along with wheelchair basketballers Brad Ness, Shaun Norris and Adam Deans, swimmer Madeleine Scott and athletics track athlete Madison de Rozario.
Madeleine Scott participated in the breaststroke leg of the 34 point 4x100m Medley Relay.
Entering the event as the second fastest qualifiers, the Australian team did not disappoint, winning the silver medal in a time of 4:45.85, eight seconds faster than their qualifying time.
Sailors, Russell Boaden and Colin Harrison executed the perfect Paralympic campaign, maintaining their first place positioning throughout the entire 11 race, Three-Person Sonar competition.
As a result of a number of excellent performances in their first ten races of the event, the Australian Three-Person Sonar had secured a gold medal result before the conclusion of racing.
They finished with an 18-point lead on their competitors, giving them a comfortable victory.
The Australian Rollers wheelchair basketball team had an upsetting finish to their Rio campaign coming away with a sixth place finish.
After losing their quarter-final game and moving into the play-off for fifth place, the Rollers were set to play the host nation, Brazil.
With an overwhelming amount of support for the Brazilians on game day, it was always going to be a challenge for the Australian side.
In the dying seconds of the game the Australian’s were given the opportunity to take the win however, unfortunately were unable to convert, finishing the game at a one-point deficit.
The final Western Australian to compete in the Rio Paralympics for 2016 was wheelchair track athlete Madison de Rozario, competing in the T52/53 800m final.
After a strong race, de Rozario crossed the line in the silver medal position, claiming her second medal for the Games.
Her finals race was significantly quicker than her qualifying time, coming in at 1:47.64.
The conclusion of the Paralympics saw Australia finish in fifth place, with a total of 81 medals.
Western Australia’s total medal tally consisted of one gold, three silver and two bronze medals, awarded to Chad Perris, Ella Pardy and Madison de Rozario on the athletics track, Madeleine Scott in the swimming pool and Colin Harrison and Russell Boaden in the sailing.
Overall the Western Australians were able to achieve a number of excellent results, achieving personal bests, records and Paralympic finals debuts.
Chad Perris: T13 100m Sprint Bronze
Ella Pardy: T35-38 4x100m Sprint Bronze
Madison de Rozario: T53/54 4x400m Silver and T52/53 800m Silver.
Madeleine Scott: 34 point 4x100m Medley Relay Silver
Colin Harrison and Russell Boaden: Three-Person Sonar Gold