Australia at the 1962 Perth Commonwealth Paraplegic Games
The 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games were held in Perth, the then home of disability sport in Australia, with the Royal Perth Hospital being a key driving force.They were the first of four editions of the Commonwealth Paraplegic Games, held every four years in the same countries as the able-bodied Commonwealth Games, from 1962 to 1974.
The 1962 Games were undertaken just prior to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth and funded via financial assistance from other Australian states. The city of Perth was very supportive of the games, both in terms of attending events and extensive news coverage. The emblem of the games, a wheelchair athlete throwing a javelin with the Australian flag in the background, was found on the Games flag, competition medals, the program and the tickets. Events included archery, basketball, club throw, archery, fencing, javelin throw, pentathlon, precision javelin, shot put, snooker, swimming, table tennis and weightlifting. Out of the 13 events available to athletes, weightlifting was of special significance due to the fact that national and international records were established in Perth.
Performance
The Australian team consisted of 24 athletes – three women and 21 men – and won 38 gold medals, 29 silver and 23 bronze medals. In total, the Australian team secured an inspiring ninety (or 89) out of the possible 226 medals on offer. Based on the point-scoring system, Australia earned 305 points and was awarded the Royal Perth Hospital Paraplegic Unit Trophy. Noteworthy performances were made by Daphne Ceeney, a founding member of the Paraplegic Sports Club of New South Wales, who won eight gold medals across seven disciplines, and by Lorraine Dodd (later McCoulough-Fry) who set two world records in backstroke and freestyle, winning seven gold medals. Frank Ponta won more medals than any other competitor, with a total haul of eleven medals.
The 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games were held in Perth, the then home of disability sport in Australia, with the Royal Perth Hospital being a key driving force.
Date: November 1962
Choose fields
© 2024 Australian Paralympic Committee
Web Design and Development by NOUS