Timeline - Paralympics

Year

1964

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Fifteen Australian athletes and eight support staff travelled to Tokyo for the 1964 Summer Paralympics.

Australia at the 1964 Tokyo Paralympics

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List of the members of the 1964 Australian Paralympic Team for the Tokyo Games, with links to the members’ Wikipedia articles.

1964 Tokyo Paralympics Australian team list

A segment of the Australian Team as it marches around the track during the Opening Ceremony of the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games on Oda Field in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo

Australian Team Marches Tokyo Games Opening Ceremony

The band plays during the Opening Ceremony of the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Band plays Tokyo Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Teams lined up Tokyo Paralympics Opening Ceremony

Empress Michiko and Crown Prince Akihito (left) meet representatives of the participating teams during the opening ceremony of the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games on Oda Field in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo. At the right of the picture is Ludwig Guttmann, the founder of the Paralympic movement.

Crown Prince and Princess meet teams Tokyo Paralympics

Japanese Crown Prince Akihito and Empress Michiko meet representatives of the Australian Team during the Opening Ceremony of the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games at Oda Field in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo. Just behind the Empress is Ludwig Guttmann, the founder of the Paralympic movement.

Crown Prince Akihito meets teams Tokyo Paralympics

Members of the Australian Paralympic Team watch activities during the Opening Ceremony of the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games at Oda Field in Yoyogi Park, Tokyo.

Australian Team watches Tokyo Games Opening Ceremony

The “Games for the paralysed”

Or the “Games for the physically handicapped”?

Daphne Ceeney archery Tokyo Paralympics

Australian Paralympic Team Member Roy Fowler aims at the target during an archery event at the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games, watched by Team Manager and remedial gymnast 'Johnno' Johnston (standing at far right). Fowler won a bronze medal with Lionel Cousins and John Martin in the men's St Nicholas Round team event.

Roy Fowler archery Tokyo Paralympics

Australian Paralympic Team Member Michael Dow lifts during the weighlifting competition. Dow won a silver medal in the Men's Featherweight with a lift of 95 kg. Australian Team members look on, with athletes from other countries. Team Manager 'Johnno' Johnston is wearing glasses and a white cap. Spectator facilities were very limited at some venues, including weightlifting.

Michael Dow Weightlifting Tokyo Paralympics

Australian Team Members at athletics Tokyo Paralympics

A wheelchair track race during the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Wheelchair race Tokyo Paralympics

Mather-Brown takes his basketball chair to the track

Athletes chat on the infield at the athletics track during the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Athletes chat Tokyo Paralympics

Meal ticket – Tokyo Paralympics

The dining experience Tokyo Paralympics

"The food, the games, everything was absolutely marvellous."

Daphne Hilton praises the running of the 1964 Tokyo Games

It was the first “Paralympic” Village – and it was “marvellous” also

An unknown competitor prepares to throw the discus during the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games. At that time, throwers competed in their day chairs, and relied on the assistance of able-bodied team officials to hold the chair stable while they threw. Athletes now use custom made throwing frames that are tethered to the ground.

Discus Tokyo Paralympics

Athletes warm up for the men's javelin event at the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games. On the left is an unknown Australian athlete and next to him is Gary Hooper, another member of the Australian Team.

Javelin warm-up Tokyo Paralympics

Wheelchair fencing action between two unknown athletes during the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games. Spectator facilities were virtually non-existent at some of the Games venues, including fencing, one of the original Paralympic sports.

Wheelchair fencing Tokyo Paralympics

"I could see a gold medal staring at me"

Frank Ponta on his fencing silver medal in Tokyo 1964

A player from an unknown team shoots a free throw in a wheelchair basketball game against the USA at the Yoyogi Indoor Stadium during the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Basketball free throw Tokyo Summer Paralympics

Scene at the swimming venue during a race during the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Swimming venue Tokyo Paralympics

Daphne Ceeney (later Hilton) - left - who won the silver medal, congratulates 14 year old Elizabeth Edmondson, who won gold in a world record time in the 50m Freestyle Prone Complete Class 5 swimming event at the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games. Edmondson remained the youngest Australian Paralympic gold medallist until 2012. Australian Team official Kevin Betts pushes Daphne Ceeney and 'Johnno' Johnston pushes Elizabeth Edmondson.

Ceeney and Edmondson handshake Tokyo Paralympics

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

"Just get in there, do your job, and go home again"

Listen to Elizabeth Edmondson’s experience of the 1964 Tokyo Games

A telegram from the 1964 Australian Paralympic Team head of delegation, George Bedbrook, to the family os swimmer Elizabeth Edmondson, informing them of her success at the Games and plans for the return trip to Australia. Edmondson and Bedbrook were both from Western Australia. At 14, Edmondson was the youngest Australian Paralympic gold medallist until 2012. Telegram provided by Elizabeth Edmondson from her personal scrapbook.

A telegram from Dr Bedbrook

Action during a wheelchair basketball game between two unknown teams outside the Yoyogi Indoor Stadium during the 1964 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Wheelchair basketball Tokyo Paralympics

1964 Team Members passing on wisdom to 2012 athletes

Our stories

Looking for more about the 1964 summer Paralympics? Here are some links you can visit and ideas to find out more.

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