Paralympic Games
Meet the rising para-athletics star with a triple Olympian in her corner
Melinda Gainsford-Taylor had never coached a para-athlete before. That was until she met Mali Lovell, who has just made her first Australian team.
- by Tom Decent
Latest
How a baby magpie saved para surfing champion’s life – and inspired the Blues
Sam Bloom was left a paraplegic when she fell from a six-metre lookout in Thailand after leaning on a rotten railing. Now she is inspiring the men’s and women’s NSW teams.
- by Adam Pengilly
Updated
Swimming
‘This is amazing’: Nine to broadcast 2024 Paralympics after Tokyo breakthrough
Three months after announcing it would broadcast the next three summer Olympic Games, Nine has added next year’s Paralympics to its stable of live sport.
- by Tom Decent
‘They call me a miracle’: Alexa cheated death. Now she’s on the Australian swim team
Alexa Leary’s parents said goodbye to their daughter eight times in hospital after a horrific cycling accident. This is her uplifting story of survival.
- by Tom Decent
Exclusive
Olympics
Free childcare part of $4m push to boost elite women coaches
Less than a fifth of Australia’s elite coaches at the Tokyo Olympics were women. The federal government has committed $4 million to changing that.
- by Georgina Robinson
Kyle Sandilands’ comments on Paralympics found to breach decency standards
The FM radio pair’s coverage of the Paralympics has come in for criticism from the broadcasting regulator.
- by Karl Quinn
Opinion
Olympics
Bread and circuses rule strikes again with Brisbane Olympics
The estimated cost of the 2032 Games already appears to have risen by $2.55 billion since 2021. How much do you think it will rise over the next nine years?
- by Peter FitzSimons
‘Challenge and care’: Athlete wellbeing a priority in 2032 success strategy
After toxic culture scandals in several Australian sports, a major new strategy to ensure a bumper medal haul at the Brisbane Olympics has a strong focus on athletes being looked after as people.
- by Iain Payten
Life splashes before her eyes
Swimming was rehabilitation for the once accident-prone girl, given to falls and bruises. The now 21-year-old Paralympian reflects on her triumphs in the water, the medals, the records ... and the tears by the poolside.
- by Cloe Read
Pain v passion: The nine-year journey that cost Paralympian more than her leg
A silver medal at the Paralympics in 2016. Five Australian swim teams. Three attempts at different degrees. Two universities. Nine years to graduate from her bachelor degree. What’s next for Paralympian Monique Murphy?
- by Cloe Read
‘I was going down a dark path’: How bowls changed best mates’ lives for the better
Para athletes Damien Delgado and Chris Flavel claimed a silver medal on Tuesday and say lawn bowls gave them a new lease on life after a car accident and an unexpected physio appointment.
- by Tom Decent