Australian Paralympic swim team announced

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. To begin, I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which we gather today, the Yagura and tourable people, and pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. What an incredible week it has been here at the Brisbane Aquatic Centre and this evening it is an honour to help Paralympics Australia officially unveil the selected athletes to represent our country at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games. I would like to formally welcome Miss Kate McLaughlin, Chef de Michonne of the 2024 Australian Paralympic Team, to assist with tonight's team announcement and further extend a warm welcome to Paralympic Australia President Miss Allison Cray, AMC SC, Paralympic Australia Acting CEO Mr. Cameron Murray, Swimming Australia Patron Mrs. Gina Rinehart AO and Swimming Australia CEO, Mr. Rob Woodhouse. Before we get underway with the announcement of the team, please welcome Kate McLaughlin to the microphone. Good evening everybody. The selection of an Australian Paralympic Swimming team to represent the nation at the LA Dufons Arena in Paris marks a huge milestone for Paralympics Australia and our wider Australian Paralympic team. The success of Australia at the Paralympic Games depends on the success of our swimmers. If our swimming team does well, Australia does well. Such is the impact this great sport has on our international performance. Paralympic competition in the pool is fierce. Swimming is a global sport in which fractions of a second can make all of the difference. But that's where the power of the Australian Paralympic swim team shines through, in those critical moments when spirit and determination are driving forces. We've seen it time and time again over the years, and we certainly have seen it this week. Now you have your opportunity to seal your place in Paralympic history. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a Games debutante, all of you have worked extremely hard to earn the right to join the Australian Paralympic Team, and I can only admire and respect your resilience and skill. I hope this moment gives you reason to reflect and feel that all of those early mornings were worth it. Enjoy the next 75 days as your focus zeros in on preparing yourself to achieve your goals at the Paralympic Games. We know you'll make all of Australia proud. Congratulations to every single member of the Australian Paralympic Swim Team for 2024. Thank you, thank you Kate. Now the moment we have been waiting for. Ladies and gentlemen heading up the Australian Paralympic Team going to Paris. Please welcome head coach Greg Toll. Greg is a veteran coach on the Australian Swim team having coached both at both the Paralympics and Olympics and this will be his second Paralympics. Congratulations Greg. Alongside Greg, please welcome and congratulate the coaches and support staff selected with the team to Paris. They are the unsung heroes of the Australian team, providing support as athletes chase their dreams and they will be guiding them to glory in Paris. Congratulations. And now to our athletes. In alphabetical order. Jessie Ungles Jessie is a two time Paralympian and twice a World Championship medallist. The versatile swimmer excels in multiple strokes and events and is a valued contributor to Australia's relay team. Congratulations Jessie Young Emily B Croft heading to her third Paralympic Games in Paris. The butterfly and freestyle specialist is a two time Paralympic medallist who also enjoys and excels competing for her country in Team Realise. Bonjour to Emily Bebroft. Ricky Beta A master of any stroke, Ricky is a powerhouse of the Australian team. The silver medallist from Tokyo 2020 in the mixed 4 by 100 metre freestyle relay is now off to Paris. Congratulations Ricky Beta Lewis Bishop. Clearly a crowd favorite here, he started his international swimming journey two years ago with the World Paris Series in Mexico and has been impressing selectors as he builds towards his goal of representing Australia at the Paralympics. And now he has earned selection to his first team. Congratulations, Lewis Rowan Crothers, the Sprint king of Australia, the Australian Paralympic team, reigning 50 meters freestyle gold medallists from Tokyo and 50 and 100 meters freestyle world champion. He's proved over and over again he's a force to be reckoned with. Look out, Paris Rowan Brothers is coming. Katia Dedicants. She has three Paralympic bronze medals in the 100 metre backstroke and the 400 metre freestyle, but she's developed into a powerhouse of 50 metres freestyle swimming. Katia Dedekind is off to her third game. Tom Gallagher a bronze medalist in the 400 metres freestyle in Tokyo. He's now become one of the fastest Sprint swimmers on the Australian team. He's fought his way back after injury and illness and now he's heading to his second Paralympics. Congratulations Tom Gallagher. Jasmine Greenwood. She made her Australian debut as a 12 year old in 2017 at Tokyo 20/20. She won silver in the 100 metres butterfly. We cannot wait to see what's in store for her in Paris. Welcome to the Australian Paralympic team. Jasmine Greenwood, Brendan Hall, a gold medallist in London and Rio, an Australian Paralympic team favorite and now heading to a record equalling 5th Paralympic Games. Start practicing your French, You're off to Paris. Brendan Hall, Benjamin Hans, Winner of three medals at Tokyo 2020, including gold in the 100 metres backstroke in which he's also the reigning world champion. Welcome to the team for Paris, Benny Hans. Tim Hodge, the master of the medley. Three time Paralympic medallist. He smashed his own world record earlier this week and is looking simply unstoppable. Selected for his third Paralympic Games, it's the boy from Blacktown, Timothy Hodge. Jack Island, a Commonwealth Games and World Championship medallist, are now a Paralympian. This freestyle master is a welcome addition to the team heading to Paris. Congratulations to Jack Island, Ella Jones. She made her international debut for the Dolphins in 2019 and has been chasing her Paralympic dream ever since. This hardcore Penrith Panthers supporter is off to her first Paralympic Games. Welcome Ella Jones. Jenna Jones. She debuted for the green and gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympics, taking out silver at the 2023 Manchester World Championships in the 100 metre backstroke and now headed to her second Games. Congratulations Jenna Jones Ahmed Kelly. He's won the hearts of the nation, representing Australia at 3 Paralympic Games and winning a silver medal in Tokyo in the men's 150 metres individual medley. Say bonjour to Ahmed Kelly Alexa Leary. Her story is truly a triumph of human spirit. She's a fighter in every sense of the word and has quickly become the one to beat when it comes to freestyle. Get ready to enjoy those crepes in Paris. Welcome to the team Alexa Leary, Paige Leonhardt. She burst onto the scene at the Rio 2016 Games, then went on to represent Australia in Tokyo, and now she's headed to a third Paralympic Games. Congratulations, Paige Leonhardt. Madeleine Mckernan, a relay master who represented her country in Tokyo winning a silver medal. She's represented Australia at World championship Sander Commonwealth Games. We'll see her in Paris as a two time Paralympian. Congratulations Maddie Mcternan. Jack Jake Mickel A World Championship gold medallist, this Tokyo debutante earned a silver medal in the 100 metres breaststroke in 2021 and is now a two time Paralympian. We'll see you in Paris. Jake Mickel, Chloe Osborne. Inspired by our Tokyo Paralympians, this athlete threw herself into training to make it onto the world stage. Through hard work and dedication she has fulfilled her dream of becoming a Paralympian. Congratulations Chloe Osborne Grant Scooter Patterson. A silver and bronze medal in Tokyo. All that eludes his collection is gold, an opportunity which is awaiting him in Paris. Welcome three time Paralympian Grant Scooter Patterson. Lakeisha Patterson, one of our Golden Girls of the pool affectionately known as Lucky 1, gold in Rio and gold in Tokyo and is now a three time Paralympian. We cannot wait to see what you achieve in Paris. Congratulations Lakeisha Patterson, Cole Pearce. This Tokyo debutante won a bronze medal in the 100 meters butterfly and has been impressing in the water ever since. We are thrilled to say he's now set to fly in France. Welcome to the team Cole Pearce, Alex Safi, a Commonwealth Games representative and World Championship bronze medallist who is now ready to make an impact at his first Paralympic Games. It's teenage sensation. Alex Safi, Callum Simpson, the youngest male athlete on this Australian Paralympic team set to make waves that is debut Paralympic Games. Congratulations Helen Simpson, Kyra Stevens with two bronze medals from her debut Paralympics in Tokyo and aiming for more glory in Paris. Welcome to the team now two time Paralympian and the pride of Harvey Bay, Kyra Stevens Ruby Storm. This freestyle and butterfly specialist and Paralympic medallist is ready to shine at her second Paralympic Games after a stellar debut in Tokyo. Congratulations Ruby Storm Holly Warn, our youngest member of the 2024 Australian Paralympic Swim Team, the 15 year old has demonstrated a rapid rise in performance and welcomes the opportunities that present themselves in Paris. Congratulations and best of luck Holly. Warn Rachel Watson, the local champion that trains here at Sleeman Sporting Complex, heading to her third Paralympic Games as a two time defending champion in the 50 metres freestyle and trying to emulate her mentor Dawn Fraser in winning the same event at 3 consecutive games. Join me in congratulating the incredible Rachel Watson Poppy Poppy Wilson. Poppy is a wonderful athlete who brings amazing energy to the team. After making her Australian debut at last year's World Championships, Poppy can grab her Qantas boarding pass and join the rest of her teammates on that flight to Paris. Congratulations, Poppy Wilson. Thank you. Thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Australian Paralympic team bound for Paris 2024. On behalf of the entire country, congratulations and good luck. Now that is a moment to savour our Paralympic team for Paris. They've got their tickets, they've got their berets and they are off to France. And Alexa, that's my, I've been out and wiping off her face all week. And the celebrations continue here tonight. The team officially unveiled for our Olympians that comes tomorrow night. And we'll have a look ahead to all the action that's coming your way on the final day, day six very soon. But this is very something very, very special to Yarden Scooter leading the charge with the celebrations. I love that they got yellow berets. I love them. I don't know all the teams loving them, mind you. I think some are enjoying the berets and others were like, no, no, won't wear those. Some are, some are a little bit too cool for the berets past. So it's my mum. I don't wanna wear that beret. This photo's gonna stay up on the wall for a long time. But again, seeing so many of their smiles and once again, quite a few members that were announced on that team that we haven't seen perform with qualifying times here this week, but have set them previously. So a wonderful moment for them with the relief of knowing that they're off to Paris. Yeah, that's sweet, sweet moment for so many of these athletes out on the pool deck as we head over to Ellie. Brendan Hall, how you going? I'm great. Thank you. How are you going? Because you've just been announced onto your 5th Paralympics team. Yeah. Now, you joined your first Paralympic team 16 years ago, and I'm not sure how this is going to make you feel, but we have a Paralympian, Holly Warren, who is younger than your Paralympic swimming career. Yeah, cool. I have goosebumps. And then you just brought me back down to earth. So yeah, that's really exciting to see a bunch of rookies on this team this year. So can't wait to see what we can do. Absolutely. Now, you joined the Paralympic Team back in 2008. How's your journey evolved over that time? You know that the journey is a very important part of becoming a Paralympian. It's on our Paralympic team uniform. What's your journey been like over the last four Paralympic Games and heading into your 5th? It's been one hell of a roller coaster. Started at the bottom, went all the way to the top, went back to the bottom, and it's come to a nice plateau. And I'm very happy with everything. So hopefully we're on the way up again. Yeah, I think so. Alexa, Leary, can you please come here because you have just been announced. Officially on to the Australian Paralympic Team. How does it feel to be wearing the green and gold of your first Paralympic team uniform? I'm very proud of myself. I'm like, yes, Lex, you've done it. I think the rest of the country felt that way, Lex. I think you've almost coined your own catch version. Yeah, Lex. And I'm sure everybody's going to be cheering that now. I've just asked Brendan about what his journey has been like as a Paralympian and I know you'll have a lot to learn from Brendan and all of his experience. But for those that aren't familiar with your story, what's your journey been like, particularly over the last three years? It's been, it's been difficult, but I'm trying my best every day and I'm lucky. I'm here living and I'm walking and I'm talking and I don't know, I fought so hard to be here and I'm just like, I want to go further and I'm very determined and passionate. When I want something, I go for it. So swimming, I've got ya. I'm coming for ya. Absolutely, you are all right. Congratulations, you two off to a Paralympic Games in Paris. We cannot wait. Let's join the rest of our Paralympic team. They're looking fabulous with their berets. Time to get the beret on Brendan Hall. Yes, Ellie in great form 2 on the microphone, the ALDI and the Newy right there and they are part of Team Australia for Paris. Bringing it on. Gian. As we said, such an incredible mix of experience and youth, and you need that excitement of the first time Paralympians to almost remind you of how special this is. I mean, it didn't look like Brendan Hall needed any more reminding. He looked quite emotional in that interview. But again, seeing the exuberance of Lex standing next to him, it's like, oh, that's right. I remember what it was like when I made my first Paralympic team and now she's having this moment alongside with me. It's a beautiful mix, it really is, and I think that it's that innocence and wonder that comes with with youth. While it's not knowing what's going to come up and knowing that you'll be assisted along the way by those who've experienced something that's quite extraordinary. You'll be able to call yourself a Paralympian, to know what you've overcome, know where your family's been and know what you're up against and how you have been able to strive towards success. I love it.