Timeline - Paralympics

1960

Paralympic defined: Parallel, paralysed or paraplegic?

Bill Mather-Brown discusses the origin of the term “Paralympic”

1964

3 gold medals; 3 world records; 14 years old in Tokyo

1968

Winning gold is my proudest moment

Bruno Moretti on the intricacies of the wheelchair slalom

1974

Kevin Bourden is one of the five South Australian team members who along with five officials and several supporters boarded Adelaide airport. Dr Sorbe Adams and escort Ian Wardrop decide to take Kevin up the steps in his chair in preference to carrying him bodily.

Kevin Borden carried onto the aircraft

After a night in a warm bed, the paras are up early the next morning boarding the specially converted buses taking them to their events. The red uniformed hostesses are very much able bodied but the driver willingly gives assistance anyhow. These buses have been taken off their normal runs for games. All the seats were removed, the floors levelled and safety bars installed. They hold 16 chairs.

Buses modified to ferry the wheelchair athletes

Getting the paras on and off aeroplanes is one of the more strenuous duties of the escorts. Fork lifts and elevating platforms can help, but with a large group, carrying up and down the steps seems to be the most efficient method.

Athletes boarding and alighting the plane

1980

An historic moment, full of anticipation

1984

Did spectators pay extra for a track-side view?

Move over Elizabeth, as young Anne makes a splash

The Games opens, and Kevin Coombs gives Prince Charles a hat

Tip-off, as Australia takes on Great Britain in basketball

And Barbara Caspers chimed in with four shooting golds of her own

1988

"I'm going to win a gold medal. I really, really have to race."

Norma Beer tells the extraordinary story of Deahnne McIntyre’s path to gold

And Stan’s win made the Kosmalas the first ever married gold medalists

1990

"We would have been probably the very first."

Adrienne Smith says that Australia was probably the first Paralympic committee

1992

Grunnsund goes from winter to summer, the hard way

Kieran Modra throws the javelin

And then Modra heads to the pool

A common site in Barcelona – Louise Sauvage leads the pack

It was Futsal’s only Paralympic appearance and Australia was there

1996

David “Clock” Evans on his way to gold in the 1500m

Katrina Webb had a great story and a great Games

Ashley Adams rests between shots, Atlanta 1996

2000

John and Janette Howard in attendance at the Cycling event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Australia had the support of its Prime Minister and Mrs Howard

Arthur Fisk takes a shot during the Archery at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

While Arthur Fisk was a large presence in the archery competition

Jamie Dunross, Noel Robbins and Graeme Martin compete in the Sailing in Sydney Harbor at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

The perfect backdrop for Australia’s first sailing gold medal

2004

As were the performances of Ashley Adams

"Peter and I had been friends for so long, it just seemed like the right thing to do."