Sport
27 August, 2024
Cheering on our Paralympic stars
The message from veteran Paralympian and Paris Games flag bearer, Brenden Hall, to folks back home is simple: Be prepared to get up early.
The Moreton Bay local is set to notch up his fifth and last Games, but despite world records and six medals already under his belt, it is the honour of holding the flag for his nation that has really hit home.
“It took me a while to come to terms with it,” he told The Sentinel.
“I’m very honoured to be able to do it. “I think it’s something that I’ll hopefully remember for the rest of my life, and I don’t think I’ll actually realise it until I’m doing it.”
The 31-year-old is a seasoned Australian Paralympian starting in 2008 at Beijing where he the freestyle champion set a new record in the men’s S9 400m freestyle.
In 2012 at the London Paralympics he won gold in the S9 400m freestyle and the 4x100m freestyle 34 Points relay as well as bronze in the 4x100m medley 34 Points relay.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to represent Australia one more time at the Paralympic Games and I’m just as excited as I was when I made my fi rst team in 2008,” he said.
It’s been a remarkable journey for Brenden who overcame the loss of his right leg to chicken pox in 1999.
Born in Nambour and going to Petrie school, Brenden has since earned six Paralympic medals, eight world titles, and remains the world record holder in multiple freestyle events.
This year, Brenden will be competing in the S9 100m butterfly, 100m backstroke and 400m freestyle and hopes that the Moreton Bay community will tune in to watch his competitions.
“Thank you everyone for your support, I wouldn’t have been here without you, especially my family,” he said.
“And without you guys, they especially wouldn’t have been able to come over.”
Caboolture local, Lakeisha ‘Lucky’ Patterson is another highly successful para-swimmer who is representing Australia for the third time in this year’s Paralympics.
The 25-year-old Paralympian competes with cerebral palsy following a stroke at birth, but also has epilepsy and micrographia.
This year Lucky is set to compete in the S9 100m and 400m freestyle as well as the SM9 200m individually medley.
Lucky first realised her Paralympic dream following a Paralympics Australia Talent Search Day in 2012.
It was here that three-time Paralympian, Michael Anderson, inspired Lucky to launch her completive career in para-swimming.
Lucky competed in her first Paralympics in Rio 2016 where she won gold in the S8 400m freestyle and set a new world record of 4:40:33.
During the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo, Lucky defended her 400m freestyle title, cementing her legacy as a top Paralympian.
Lucky said that she was most looking forward to having her family in the stands to support her.
“I’m really excited to just put on that green and gold cap and see what I can do, and to have my family there in the stands will be a big difference this time around, I’m excited to race for them, and race for our country, and put together some good performances,” she said.
“To put it all together for them and for the little girl who loved swimming to start with is definitely my
biggest goal.”
Lucky thanked her fellow Moreton Bay residents for their continued support for her career.
“I’d just like to say a massive hi and thank you so much for all of your support I hope you will rally behind your TV’s and scream loud for us,” Lucky said.
The two-time Paralympian, Ricky Betar, is set to compete in the S14 200m Individual Medley and the SM14 100m backstroke.
The Morayfield local said that he was proud to represent Australia at the Paralympics for the second time.
“I’m so proud of myself for achieving this level of success and support for the second time, competing in the highest that I can be,” Ricky said.
Ricky, who lives with autism and ADHD, broke the INAS (International Sports Federation for People with Intellectual Disability) 50m freestyle world record during the 2019 Australian Championships.
During the 2020 Paralympics, Ricky assisted his team in winning the silver medal for the S14 mixed 4x100m freestyle.
Ricky also came seventh in the S14 200m freestyle and eighth in the S14 100m butterfly.
Ricky missed out on the opportunity to compete in front of a crowd during the 2020 Paralympics due to the Covid-19 pandemic but is excited to hear the roar of the crowd this time around.
“It’s so much better to hear cheers and roars rather than just competing in an empty crowd,” he said.
As an inaugural Kurt Fearnley Scholarship recipient, Ricky aspires to model his career after the legendary Paralympian.
To the people of Moreton Bay, Ricky expressed his gratitude for supporting his Paralympic journey.
“Thank you everyone for your support, I wouldn’t have been here without you, especially my family,” Ricky said.
The Paris Paralympic Games kicked off this week, on the August 28, and we can’t wait to watch these hardworking local athletes compete.
Good luck!
