WA Triathletes Selected for #Rio2016
Western Australian athletes Brant Garvey and Claire McLean have today been confirmed on the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team for the Rio Games after being named on a seven-strong Para-Triathlon squad for Australia.
Born without his left leg above the knee, Garvey has become something of a Paralympic symbol in WA over the past 18 months, with the likeable athlete launching his own #NoXcuses brand to highlight his path to Rio.
Competing in the PT2 class, the 31 year-old met the selection criteria in April when he finished second at an ITU World Para-Triathlon event in Penrith, qualifying Australia’s berth in the classification in the process.
Garvey reinforced his credentials by winning silver at another ITU World event in Yokohama, Japan in May, as he continued to improve his time, particularly in the cycling discipline.
Claire McLean will join Garvey in action in Rio, after the 41 year-old earned selection in the PT4 class. McLean competed at the 2004 Athens Games in Para-Cycling but switched to Triathlon after missing selection for London 2012. McLean quickly excelled in her new pursuit, and has now represented and medalled at World Championship level in both sports for Australia.
A motorcycle accident as a 19 year-old, left McLean with a paralysed arm on her left side, with the condition known as brachial plexus palsy. With Para-Triathlon a multiclass event, her disability restricts her time against some of her competitors in the swimming leg, but her prowess in cycling makes up for this, with McLean set to push for a medal in Rio.
Outside of sport, the Cottesloe resident works as a legal advisor and is looking to join an exclusive list of athletes to medal in two Paralympic disciplines, having won silver in the cycling individual time trial in Athens.
With Para-triathlon appearing at the Paralympic Games for the first time in 2016, Australian Paralympic Team Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin congratulated each of the seven triathletes, who now have an opportunity to take their sport to a new level.
“We are so delighted to welcome our Para-triathletes onto the Australian Paralympic Team for the first time. It’s been a long wait, but I know they’re ready to do our nation proud and I can’t wait to see them in action,” McLoughlin said.
With Para-Triathlon the final squad announcement for the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team, Western Australia will be represented in Rio by 18 athletes across eight sports. The Paralympics are held between September 7-18.
Athlete Profiles: