Timeline - Paralympics

Year

1993

The Sydney bid process was politically difficult

On 12 September 1993, the bidding nations for the 2000 summer Paralypics made their final presentations to the International Paralympic Committee in Berlin. Australia was represented in berlin by this team: (L to R) Paul Griffiths, George Dunstan, Adrienne Smith, Bob Elphinston, Marie Little, Brendan Burkett (back), Ron Finneran, Unknown, Paul Bird, Anne Green.

The final pitch for Paralympics was two weeks before the Olympic decision

"They will underwrite the Sydney 2000 Games."

Ron Finneran on the assurance that got Australia’s bid over the line.

"I prayed we wouldn't get it."

Adrienne Smith had had enough by the time the bid was done.

1999

To help create identity, the Australian Team would have its own logo

2000

Our stories

Sydney was Australia’s most successful Games, improving on the Atlanta performance to top the medal tally for the first time in Paralympic history.

Australia at the Sydney Summer Paralympics 2000

Our stories

List of the members of the 2000 Australian Paralympic Team for the Sydney Games, with links to the members’ Wikipedia articles.

2000 Summer Paralympics Australian Team List

© Sport the library/Bill BachmanSydney 2000 Paralympic GamesOpening CeremonyAustralia - Brendan Burkett - Swimming, carrying the flag

GALLERY: The opening ceremony celebrated Australia and its culture.

"We did a bit of a pat of the back for that"

Adrienne Smith recalls the feelings of achievement at the opening of the 2000 Games.

© Sport the library/Bill BachmanSydney 2000 Paralympic GamesOpening Ceremony - Stadium Australia

GALLERY: Sydney’s venues were spectacular and often full

Greg Ball competes in Cycling at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Sports benefitted from access to technology

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

Darren Harry and Paul Clohessy in action during the cycling at the Sydney Summer Paralympics;

Clohessy and Harry start Australia’s gold rush

But it wasn’t a smooth ride for Kerry and Kieran Modra

At the athletics, it was all going Australia’s way

The CP boys joined the party

Albert Lee serves during the Sitting Volleyball competition at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Every point in volleyball starts with a serve

The Australian team in action against Libya in the Sitting Volleyball competition at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Sitting volleyball – a lot of people and a lot of action in a small space

The Australian Team competes in the Sitting Volleyball competition at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Blocking is all about sitting reach in sitting volleyball

Nick Maroney made his first poster play before the Games started

Nicholas Maroney shoots during the Basketball for athletes with an Intellectual Disability event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Doing it for real – Nick Maroney gets another poster shot against Greece

Lee Collins take a shot during the Basketball for athletes with an Intellectual Disability event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Lee Collins shows he can take it to the rim too

Suzanne Twelftree competes in Powerlifting at the Sydney Summer Paralympics

Suzanne Twelftree positions herself

Natalie Cordowiner competes in Archery at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Natalie Cordowiner continued the tradition of archers and their hats

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

While Arthur Fisk was a large presence in the archery competition

Women's Wheelchair Basketball team compete in Sydney Summer Paralympics

The Gliders campaign was off to a good start

Matthew Gray. Greg Ball and Paul Lake in action during the Cycling competition at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

The start of a team sprint gold medal ride

Tania Modra and Sarnya Parker in action during the Cycling at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Tania Modra and Sarnya Parker on their way to gold

Australian swimmer Amanda Fraser competes in the S7 200IM at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, 20 October 2000

Amanda Fraser’s first Games was as a swimmer

David Rolfe in action during the Swimming at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

His first Games, but David Rolfe was the ‘old man’ of the swim team

Kate Bailey competing in the Swimming at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Reflections of Kate Bailey

Kingsley Burgarin competes in Swimming at the Sydney Summer Paralympics

Kingsley Bugarin dominated the men’s SB12 breaststoke event

Karni Liddell and Cameron de Burgh made waves in another pool

Troy Sachs (AUS) dives Wheelchair Basketball Sydney 2000

Troy Sachs took to the air for this lay-up

© Sport the library/Ryan GormlySydney 2000 Paralympic GamesWheelchair Basketball, Day 03, Aus v KorAustralia Celebrate

And the Rollers accounted for Korea

© Sport the library/Jeff CrowSydney 2000 Paralympic GamesAthletics, Day 2 October 20thShot put, Don Elgin (AUS)

Shot put was one of Don’s six events – in addition to the pentathlon

Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games Athletics - visually impaired sprinter Gerrard Gosens (AUS) with his guide/lead runner

For Gerrard Gosens, athletics is a team sport

The Football and Hockey venue at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

A magnificent venue for a thrilling football contest

Jason Rand competing for the ball during the Football at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

It was all the way when the Drillers played Spain

It was a shed but it was also the best ever boccia venue in Australia

Scott Elsworth in action during the Boccia at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Scott Elsworth played an epic match in the quarterfinals

Officials measuring during the Boccia competition at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

In Boccia, millimetres matter

Angie McReynolds concentrates as she releases the ball

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

Jamie Dunross, Noel Robins and Graeme Martin in action during the Sailing competition at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Smooth as a Sunday sail

Peter Thompson competes in the Sailing at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Closer to the water, Peter Thompson felt the spray in his beard

Anthony Clarke fights Ian Rose in the Judo competition at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Anthony Clarke goes down fighting

Rob Crestani shoots during a Goalball match at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

The goalball get under way and Rob Crestani unleashes

Louise Savage competing in the Wheelchair Track 800m T54 final at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Louise Sauvage waits for her chance in the 800m

"You thought, 'That's a pretty monumental change in people's thinking.'"

Scott Goodman talks about the attention on Sauvage and the Games

Greg Smith in action during the Wheelchair Track event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Greg Smith was on his way to three gold medals

Fabian Blattman picked up a full set of medals on the track

thletics - wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley (AUS) with Australian flag

Kurt Fearnley launched his career at the Sydney Games

Sydney 2000 Paralympic GamesWheelchair Basketball, Day 4Liesl Tesch (AUS)

The Gliders continued to play with passion and confidence

© Sport the library/Tom PuttSydney 2000 Paralympic GamesWheelchair BasketballPeter Corr (AUS, Coach)

The Gliders’ coaching staff matched the intensity of the players

Steve Neal in action during a Standing Volleyball match at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Steven Neal was the star of Australia’s standing volleyball team

Grant Prest spikes the ball during the Standing Volleyball competition at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Grant Prest tests the block

The Australian Team prepare to return a serve during the Standing Volleyball event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Prest’s leg technology interfaced with his volleyball shoes

Priya Cooper competing in the Swimming at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Despite injury, Priya Cooper still owned the S8 400m freestyle

Siobhan Paton celebrates after her Swimming event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Siobhan Paton celebrates victory from her favourite lane

Siobhan Paton was Australia’s star in the pool

ID Basketball Bradley Lee (AUS)

Bradley Lee is in control

ID Basketball Brett Wilson

Up in the air #1: Brett Wilson launches

Lisa Lorens does a backflip during the High Jump event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Up in the air #2: Lisa Llorens’ celebration – almost as spectacular as her performance

Neil Fuller competes in the track at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Neil Fuller was maybe Australia’s greatest ‘blade runner’

4 x 4oom T46 Mens track team members Stephen Wilson, Neil Fuller, Tim Matthews and Heath Frances at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

It was double gold for the men’s amputee relay track team

Robyn Stephens in action during the Goalball event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics

Robyn Stephens concentrates on her shot

Warren Lawton dives to save the ball during Goalball at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Warren Lawton saves a penalty

Coach Terry Kenaghan in discussion with team during the Goalball event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

The ‘father’ of Australian goalball got to coach at a home Games

Jo Ruba dives to block the ball during Goalball at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Jo Ruba makes a save

Kerri-Ann King competes in the Goalball at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Kerrie-Ann King hunts the ball

The tradition of the team newsletter continued for Sydney – in style

Julie Higgins celebrates Gold Medal in Equestrian at Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Julie Higgins won Australia’s first (and second) Equestrian gold medal

Sue Ellen Lovett competes in a dressage Equestrian event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Sue-Ellen Lovett went from the long track to the arena

Bill Medley reaches for a shot during the Wheelchair Table Tennis event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Lack of international competition told in table tennis

Australian track athlete Amy Winters celebrates her gold medal win at the 2000 Sydney Paralympic Games, Day 08. This was either the 100 m T46 or 200 m T46 event (Winters won gold in both).

Amy Winters owned the women’s T46 sprints

Katrina Webb celebrates relay win with Alison Quinn infront of the home crowd.

Katrina Webb and Alison Quinn soak up the atmosphere after finishing 1-2 in the 100m

Athletics head coach Chris Nunn talk to athlete at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

The face of success – athletics head coach Chris Nunn

"My only disappointment was, we couldn't take on the universe."

Chris Nunn on the reasons for Australia’s Sydney success

Australian athletes sign autographs for school children at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Schoolchildren meet their heroes at ‘Ansett House’

The Rollers came up against the USA in the must-win quarter-finals

That gold medal feeling for Daniel Polson

"To prove our worth in the big world we needed to match them on the road as well."

Coach Kevin McIntosh talks about the road cycling

Daniella Di Toro Branka Pupovac (AUS) gold medals Wheelchair Tennis Sydney 2000

Shines like silver for Di Toro and Pupovac

David Hall celebrates during the Wheelchair Tennis Sydney Summer Paralympics

David Hall was at his peak in Sydney

And the crowds loved him

David Johnson’s sweet backhand helped him to doubles silver

A spectator with an assistance dog enjoys the Wheelchair Tennis competition at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

There was a big effort to make the facilities ‘disability friendly’

"I'm so proud that Australia put on the best Paralympics ever!"

Libby Kosmala on how the athletes’ Village made Sydney special

Wheelchair Rugby, the most ‘in your face’ sport at the Games

Kahi Puru in action during the Powerlifting competition at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Kahi Puru – a study in concentration

Richard Nicholson in action during the Powerlifting event at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Richard Nicholson lifts for silver

The Womens Australian Basketball team celebrate their Silver medal win at the Sydney Summer Paralympics.

Australia’s first ever women’s basketball medal – the start of a tradition

Dubberley and Hucks apply the pressure in the wheelchair rugby final

© Sport the library/Bill BachmanSydney 2000 Paralympic GamesWheelchair Rugby, Day 10Brad Dubberley (AUS)

Hands up who’s here to win?

© Sport the library/Ryan GormlySydney 2000 Paralympic GamesWheelchair Rugby, FinalAustralian Team presentation

Australia’s best ever result to then – but not what they came for

"We took them from nowhere and had a goal to develop them..."

Brendan Flynn explains how the rugby program was created

"The Paralympic movement is no longer just about rehabilitation."

Nick Dean reflects on how Sydney transformed the Paralympic movement

© Sport the library/Bill BachmanSydney 2000 Paralympic GamesClosing CeremonyAthletes on track

GALLERY: Now, the carnival is over

"The rebirthing of Paralympic sport as a sport ... clearly was 2000."

Brendan Flynn talks about the Sydney Games’ place in history

Our stories

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