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With the Paralympics getting underway today, let’s finish running through the sports on offer in Rio.
Rowing
Often called adaptive rowing to distinguish it from Olympic rowing, Paralympic rowing has many different distances. Both men and women compete, after the sport made its debut in Beijing, eight years ago. Australia have eight competitors and are one of 25 countries competing this time around. Australia has received a silver at each of the last two Olympics.
Sailing
The Sydney Paralympics was the first time sailing was a medal sport, although it had been a demonstration sport four years earlier. There are six experienced Australians competing and we are expected to come away with a medal. Sailing is one of few sports where men and women compete together, although the majority are male. Australia have won a lean four medals (two of them gold) in the sport’s short history.
Shooting
Shooting is for the visually impaired or those with damaged nerves, and is divided into events by distances and different types of rifles or pistols. Australia have six competitors, and should grab at least two medals. Overall, Australia has a great history in shooting with 15 of our 25 medals gold, but since 1992 we have managed just five medals, none of them gold.
Sitting volleyball
Although Australia is not competing and have never medalled since the sport’s debut in 1980, 16 countries compete in both the men’s and women’s competition and the top four battle it out for a place in the gold medal match. There are eight players on a court and the net is lowered so it just above head height.
Swimming
595 athletes from half of the competing nations (80) will battle it out for 152 medals on offer in the pool. Competition is on every day of the meet, barring the opening and closing ceremony days. Athletes competing must have an intellectual, visual or physical impairment and are divided into divisions with people who live with the same type of disability.
Australia have picked up even more medals in the Paralympics than at the Olympics, having won up at least five gold and 29 total medals at each meet since 1984. All up, we have 396 medals, 119 of them gold. Australia have a diverse team competing in about 80 per cent of events and go in as favourites in many of them. The most well-known of our swimmers is Ellie Cole. She won six medals in London and, at just 24, has also represented Australia in wheelchair basketball.
Table tennis
Of the 269 table tennis competitors in Rio, five are Australian. The rules don’t differ between Olympic and Paralympic table tennis, although there are two divisions: standing and wheelchair. The sport has been featured at every Games and, much like in Olympic table tennis, Korea and China dominate. Australia have two golds and five other medals in table tennis, though the most recent came in 1984.
Triathlon
A true test of stamina, the triathlon combines running, cycling and swimming. It had never previously been included in the Paralympics, and four women and three men will form Australia’s inaugural team in Rio.
Wheelchair basketball
The USA dominate, but Australia have qualified a strong men’s team, led by flag bearer Brad Ness, and will try hard for a medal. Australia have won two Paralympic golds, most recently in 2008, and eight medals in total, all of which have come since 1996.
Wheelchair fencing
A fairly self-explanatory sport, Australia have never won a medal and that won’t change for at least another four years. France and Italy dominate this gripping, modified version of the sport that debuted in 1960.
Wheelchair rugby
With four players on an indoor field at a time, Australia have a team competing this year in the event. It is another of those rare sports like sailing where female and male competitors are in one event. Australia took the gold four years ago and also have won two silver. The event debuted at the Sydney 2000 Games.
Wheelchair Tennis
Australian ace and world number one Dylan Alcott dominates every wheelchair tennis event and goes in as the hot favourite to win gold in Rio. Australia also have three other men and one woman competing at the seventh instalment of tennis at the Paralympics. Australia have won one gold, four silver and three bronze in the sport, all coming between 1996 and 2004.
So let’s cheer the Aussies for the next couple of weeks and hope for a top five finish in the medal tally. Good luck and congratulations to all of the athletes going for gold in Rio!