View source for Australia at the Paralympics

{{infobox country at games
| NPC = AUS
| NPCname = [[Paralympics Australia]]
| games = Paralympics
| year =  
| flagcaption = 
| oldcode = 
| website = {{url|www.paralympic.org.au }}
| location = 
| competitors = 
| sports = 
| flagbearer = 
| rank = 6
| gold = 389
| silver = 422
| bronze = 394
| officials = 
| appearances = 
| app_begin_year = 
| app_end_year = 
| summerappearances = {{Team appearances list|team=Australia|competition=Summer Paralympics|begin_year=|end_year= }}
| winterappearances = {{Team appearances list|team=Australia|competition=Winter Paralympics|begin_year=|end_year= }}
| seealso = 
}}[[Australia]] has participated officially in every [[Paralympic Games]] since its inauguration in 1960 with the exception of the [[1976 Winter Paralympics]]. 

The [[Paralympic Games]] are held every four years, following the [[Olympic Games]] and are governed by the [[International Paralympic Committee]] (IPC). The Paralympic Games have been contractually tied to the Olympic Games since 2001, however, they have taken place at the same venues since the 1988 Seoul Summer Games and the 1992 Albertville Winter Games.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.olympic.org/paralympic-games|title=Olympic Games {{!}} Winter Summer Past and Future Olympics|website=www.olympic.org|access-date=2016-09-22}}</ref>

In order to compete at the Paralympics, athletes must have an eligible impairment that leads to a permanent activity limitation, and athletes will compete in the [[Disability sport classification|classification]] appropriate to their impairment.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org.au/classification/|title=Classification {{!}} Australian Paralympic Committee|website=www.paralympic.org.au|access-date=2016-09-22}}</ref> These impairments are physical, vision and intellectual impairments.

[[Paralympics Australia]], established in 1990, is responsible for selecting and preparing the Australian Paralympic Teams for both the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games. This committee assists with funding the athletes and competition in addition to talent identification.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org.au/about-us/mission-goals/|title=Mission & Goals {{!}} Australian Paralympic Committee|website=www.paralympic.org.au|access-date=2016-09-22}}</ref>

Many of Australia's gold medals have come from [[Paralympic athletics|Athletics]],<ref name="IPC Historical Results" /> a sport which has been popular amongst Australian Paralympic athletes, such as [[Tim Sullivan (athlete)|Tim Sullivan]] and [[Louise Sauvage]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/results/historical|title=Athletics at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games Results: Athletics - Events and Medallists|publisher=IPC Historical Results Archive}}</ref> The other sport from which many medals have come is [[Paralympic swimming|Swimming]].[[File:141100 - Paralympic Flame cauldron alight 3 - 3b - 2000 Sydney cauldron photo.jpg|thumb|[[Paralympic symbols|Paralympic Flame]] alight in Sydney at the [[2000 Summer Paralympics|2000 Summer Paralympic Games]].]][[Australia]] has hosted the Paralympic Games on one occasion in 2000.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/hira/web/competition/code/PG2000|title=IPC Historical Results Archive – Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games|last=Picolin A, International Paralympic Committee|website=db.ipc-services.org|access-date=2016-08-31|archive-date=2019-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820201508/https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/hira/web/competition/code/PG2000|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Sydney]], the capital city of [[New South Wales]] hosted the [[Summer Paralympic Games|Summer Paralympics]] from 23 to 31 October 2000.<ref name=":3" /> There were 3879 participants from 123 countries across 19 [[Paralympic sports|sports]] and 550 events.<ref name=":3" /> Australia won the most medals with 149 overall.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/results/historical|title=Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games Results|publisher=IPC Historical Results Archive}}</ref>

==History==
The Paralympic Games had their beginnings in the [[World Abilitysport Games|Stoke Mandeville Games]], held at the [[Stoke Mandeville Hospital]], a spinal hospital in the United Kingdom. The first Games was in 1948, originally designed for patients of the hospital. The first Australian representative was 19 year old [[Charlene Todman]], who had travelled to the hospital due to a lack of suitable care for spinal injuries in Australia at the time, competing in Archery at the 1951 games.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Charlene Todman |url=https://paralympichistory.org.au/article/charlene-todman-australias-first-stoke-mandeville-games-competitor/?article_decade=64 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=Paralympics Australia |language=en}}</ref>

The annual Stoke Mandeville Games would stage their first event in a new host city in 1960, with Rome hosting the [[1960 Summer Paralympics|9th International Stoke Mandeville Games]]. The aim was to continue to host the annual games in Stoke Mandeville and every four years in a new host city, akin to the [[Summer Olympics]], with the closing ceremony of the [[1960 Summer Olympics]] also in Rome having occurred only six days earlier.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Rome Summer Paralympics 1960 |url=https://www.paralympic.org/rome-1960 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=Paralympics |language=en}}</ref> Australia sent 12 representatives, with the team having to raise £10,000 to fund their travel. Representatives were also expected to compete in multiple events, with [[Ross Sutton]] who had been paralysed in a [[Tiger Moth]] crash two years earlier, earning Australia's first Gold Medal in Archery. Australia would leave with three Gold Medals.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Australia at the Rome Summer Paralympics 1960 |url=https://paralympichistory.org.au/article/australia-rome-summer-paralympics/?article_decade=64%2C65&article_competition=&article_sport=&article_category=&article_media_type= |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=Paralympics Australia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=The road to Australia’s first Paralympic gold medal started with a plane crash |url=https://paralympichistory.org.au/article/the-road-to-australias-first-gold-medal-started-with-a-plane-crash/?article_decade=64%2C65&article_competition=&article_sport=&article_category=&article_media_type=&scrubber=33.12351895734597 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=Paralympics Australia |language=en}}</ref> 

Australia would send athletes to every subsequent Paralympic Games, including the [[1976 Winter Paralympics]], although due to the organisers only allowing amputees, blind or visually impaired athletes, Australia's only representative skier [[Ron Finneran]] was unable to compete due to childhood [[Polio]] having impaired a leg and arm. After arguing with [[Ludwig Guttmann]], the head of the Paralympic movement, and almost coming to blows. Finneran carried the Australian flag at the Opening Ceremony and tested the courses before competition.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Australia at the Örnsköldsvik Winter Paralympics 1976 |url=https://paralympichistory.org.au/article/australia-ornskoldsvik-winter-paralympics/?article_decade=64%2C65%2C66&article_competition=&article_sport=&article_category=&article_media_type=&scrubber=87.30993285939968 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=Paralympics Australia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Ron Finneran on his response when told he couldn’t compete in Ornskoldsvik. |url=https://paralympichistory.org.au/article/ron-finneran-on-his-response-when-told-he-couldnt-compete-in-ornskoldsvik/?article_decade=64%2C65%2C66%2C69&article_competition=&article_sport=&article_category=&article_media_type=&scrubber=53.97659952606635 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=Paralympics Australia |language=en}}</ref>

Australia hosted the [[2000 Summer Paralympics]] in Sydney, topping the Medal tally for the first time with 63 golds and is scheduled to host the [[2032 Summer Paralympics]] in Brisbane.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Australia at the Sydney Summer Paralympics 2000|url=https://paralympichistory.org.au/article/australia-sydney-summer-paralympics/?article_decade=64%2C65%2C66%2C69&article_competition=&article_sport=&article_category=&article_media_type=&scrubber=84.62430884676145 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=Paralympics Australia |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Brisbane 2032 Paralympic Games|url=https://www.paralympic.org.au/mec-events/brisbane-2032-paralympic-games/ |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=Paralympics Australia |language=en}}</ref>

== Summer Games ==

[[File:Xx1164 - Ceeney and Edmondson handshake Tokyo Games - 3a - Scan.jpg|thumb|[[Daphne Ceeney]] and [[Elizabeth Edmondson]] shake hands after Edmondson won gold and Ceeney silver in the 50&nbsp;m prone swimming event in Tokyo at the [[1964 Summer Paralympics|1964 Summer Paralympic Games]].]]

{{legend2|#ccf|Host country (Australia)|border=solid 1px #AAAAAA}}

=== Medal table  ===

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" border="1" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col" style="width:10em;"|Games
!scope="col" style="background-color:gold; font-weight:bold;"|Gold
!scope="col" style="background-color:silver; font-weight:bold;"|Silver
!scope="col" style="background-color:#cc9966; font-weight:bold;"|Bronze
!scope="col" |Total
!style="width:3em; font-weight:bold;"|Rank
!style="width:3em; font-weight:bold;"|Competitors
!style="width:3em; font-weight:bold;"|Officials
!style="width:3em; font-weight:bold;"|Flag Bearer Opening
!style="width:3em; font-weight:bold;"|Flag Bearer Closing
|-
|align=left| [[1960 Summer Paralympics|1960 Rome]] || 3 || 6 || 1 || 10 || 7 || 11 || ||[[Kevin Betts]]||
|-
|align=left| [[1964 Summer Paralympics|1964 Tokyo]] || 12 || 11 || 7 || 30 || 4 ||17 ||9 ||Not a team member
|

|-
|align=left| [[1968 Summer Paralympics|1968 Tel-Aviv]] || 15 || 16 || 7 || 38 || 4 ||35 ||18 || ||

|-
|align=left| [[1972 Summer Paralympics|1972 Heidelberg]] || 6 || 9 || 10 || 25 || 11 || 37 || ||Not a team member
|

|-
|align=left| [[1976 Summer Paralympics|1976 Toronto]] || 16 || 18 || 7 || 41 || 11 || 46 || ||Not a team member
|

|-
|align=left| [[1980 Summer Paralympics|1980 Arnhem]] || 12 || 21 || 22 || 55 || 14 || 53 || ||Not a team member||

|-
|align=left| [[1984 Summer Paralympics|1984 Stoke Mandeville / <br /> New York]] || 49 || '''54''' || '''51''' || '''154''' || 8 || 108 || ||[[Carol Young (swimmer)|Carol Young]] and [[Paul Bird (Paralympian)|Paul Bird]] (NY)

Non team member (SM)
|

|-
|align=left| [[1988 Summer Paralympics|1988 Seoul]] || 23 || 34 || 38 || 95 || 10 || 175 || 47|| [[Paul Croft]] || [[Rodney Nugent]]

|-
|align=left| [[1992 Summer Paralympics|1992 Barcelona and Madrid]] || 37 || 37 || 34 || 108 || 5 ||134 || ||[[Terry Giddy]] ||[[Priya Cooper]]

|-
|align=left| [[1996 Summer Paralympics|1996 Atlanta]] || 42 || 37 || 27 || 106 || 2 || 161 || || [[Elizabeth Kosmala]] || [[Priya Cooper]]

|-bgcolor=ccccff
|align=left| [[2000 Summer Paralympics|2000 Sydney]] || '''63 '''|| 39 || 47 || 149|| '''1''' ||286 ||148 || [[Brendan Burkett]] || [[Neil Fuller]]

|-
|align=left| [[2004 Summer Paralympics|2004 Athens]] || 26 || 39 || 36 || 101 || 5 ||152 || || [[Louise Sauvage]]||[[Matthew Cowdrey]]

|-
|align=left| [[2008 Summer Paralympics|2008 Beijing]] || 23 || 29 || 27 || 79 || 5 ||161 ||122 || [[Russell Short]] ||[[Matthew Cowdrey]]
|-
|align=left| [[2012 Summer Paralympics|2012 London]] || 32 || 23 || 30  || 85  || 5 || 160 || || [[Greg Smith (Paralympian)|Greg Smith]] || [[Evan O'Hanlon]]
|-
|align=left| [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Rio]] ||22 ||30 || 29  ||81  || 5||176 || || [[Brad Ness]] || [[Curtis McGrath]]
|-
|align=left| [[2020 Summer Paralympics|2020 Tokyo]] ||21||29 ||30 || 80  ||8 ||179 || || [[Ryley Batt]] & <br/>[[Daniela di Toro]] || [[Ellie Cole]]
|-
|align=left| ''[[2024 Summer Paralympics|2024 Paris]]'' ||''18'' ||''17'' || ''28''  ||''63''  || ''9''||159 || ||  [[Madison de Rozario]] & [[Brenden Hall]] || [[Lauren Parker]] & {{sortname|James|Turner|James Turner (parathlete)}}
|- class="sortbottom" align=center
! Total || 407 || 439 || 422 || 1268
|}
<ref>{{cite web|title=Australia Paralympic Games History |url=http://www.paralympic.org.au/games-amp-events/paralympic-games-history-summer/paralympic-games-history-summer |access-date=23 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605061121/http://www.paralympic.org.au/games-amp-events/paralympic-games-history-summer/paralympic-games-history-summer |archive-date=5 June 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Xx1168 - Tony South receives 1968 gold medal - 3b - scan.jpg|thumb|[[Tony South]] receives his gold medal for the archery Albion Round in Tel-Aviv at the [[1968 Summer Paralympics]] from the founder of the Paralympic movement, [[Ludwig Guttmann]].]]
[[File:231000 - Athletics wheelchair racing 800m T52 final Greg Smith gold thumbs up - 3b - 2000 Sydney race photo.jpg|thumb|In Paralympic sport, Australia has been most successful in Athletics. [[Greg Smith (Paralympian)|Greg Smith]] gives the crowd a "thumbs up" after winning gold at the 800 m T52 final at the [[2000 Summer Paralympics|2000 Summer Paralympic Games]], in [[Sydney]] on Day 04.]]

=== Medals by summer sport 1960–2020 ===
Source:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/all-sports/npc-profile-australia.htm|title=Tokyo 2020 Summer Paralympic Games &#124; IPC|access-date=2021-08-22|archive-date=2021-08-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210822151101/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/all-sports/npc-profile-australia.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{Medals table
 | caption    = 
 | team       = Sport
 | hide_rank  = yes
 | leading    = 
 | gold_1  = 160 | silver_1  = 166 | bronze_1  = 171 | name_1  = [[File:Athletics pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Athletics at the Summer Paralympics|Athletics]]
 | gold_2  = 142 | silver_2  = 168 | bronze_2  = 170 | name_2  = [[File:Swimming pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Swimming at the Summer Paralympics|Swimming]]
 | gold_3  = 45  | silver_3  = 39  | bronze_3  = 37  | name_3  = [[File:Cycling (road) pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Cycling at the Summer Paralympics|Cycling]]
 | gold_4  = 15  | silver_4  = 7   | bronze_4  = 3   | name_4  = [[File:Shooting pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Shooting at the Summer Paralympics|Shooting]]
 | gold_5  = 8   | silver_5  = 7   | bronze_5  = 6   | name_5  = [[File:Lawn bowls pictogram.svg|20px]] [[Lawn bowls at the Summer Paralympics|Lawn bowls]]
 | gold_6  = 3   | silver_6  = 9   | bronze_6  = 4   | name_6  = [[File:Archery pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Archery at the Summer Paralympics|Archery]]
 | gold_7  = 4   | silver_7  = 3   | bronze_7  = 5   | name_7  = [[File:Weightlifting pictogram.svg|20px]] [[Weightlifting at the Summer Paralympics|Weightlifting]]
 | gold_8  = 4   | silver_8  = 5   | bronze_8  = 3   | name_8  = [[File:Wheelchair tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Wheelchair tennis at the Summer Paralympics|Wheelchair tennis]]
 | gold_9  = 3   | silver_9  = 1   | bronze_9  = 5   | name_9  = [[File:Equestrian Dressage pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Equestrian at the Summer Paralympics|Equestrian]]
 | gold_10 = 6   | silver_10 = 7   | bronze_10 = 6   | name_10 = [[File:Table tennis pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Table tennis at the Summer Paralympics|Table tennis]]
 | gold_11 = 0   | silver_11 = 5   | bronze_11 = 1   | name_11 = [[File:Powerlifting pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Powerlifting at the Summer Paralympics|Powerlifting]]
 | gold_12 = 2   | silver_12 = 5   | bronze_12 = 1   | name_12 = [[File:Wheelchair basketball pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Wheelchair basketball at the Summer Paralympics|Wheelchair basketball]]
 | gold_13 = 4   | silver_13 = 2   | bronze_13 = 1   | name_13 = [[File:Sailing pictogram.svg|20px]] [[Sailing at the Summer Paralympics|Sailing]]
 | gold_14 = 2   | silver_14 = 2   | bronze_14 = 1   | name_14 = [[File:Wheelchair rugby pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Wheelchair rugby at the Summer Paralympics|Wheelchair rugby]]
 | gold_15 = 4   | silver_15 = 3   | bronze_15 = 2   | name_15 = [[File:Paracanoe pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paracanoe at the Summer Paralympics|Paracanoe]]
 | gold_16 = 1   | silver_16 = 4   | bronze_16 = 1   | name_16 = [[File:Rowing pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Rowing at the Summer Paralympics|Rowing]]
 | gold_17 = 0   | silver_17 = 1   | bronze_17 = 1   | name_17 = [[File:Wheelchair fencing pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Wheelchair fencing at the Summer Paralympics|Wheelchair fencing]]
 | gold_18 = 1   | silver_18 = 1   | bronze_18 = 0   | name_18 = [[File:Darchery pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Dartchery at the Summer Paralympics|Dartchery]]
 | gold_19 = 0   | silver_19 = 1   | bronze_19 = 1   | name_19 = [[File:Snooker pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Snooker at the Summer Paralympics|Snooker]]
 | gold_20 = 1   | silver_20 = 0   | bronze_20 = 0   | name_20 = [[File:Judo pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Judo at the Summer Paralympics|Judo]]
 | gold_21 = 2   | silver_21 = 1   | bronze_21 = 0   | name_21 = [[File:Triathlon pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Paratriathlon at the Summer Paralympics|Triathlon]]
 | gold_22 = 0   | silver_22 = 2   | bronze_22 = 2   | name_22 = [[File:Boccia pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Boccia at the Summer Paralympics|Boccia]]
 | gold_23 = 0   | silver_23 = 0   | bronze_23 = 1   | name_23 = [[File:Taekwondo pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Parataekwondo at the Summer Paralympics|Parataekwondo]]
 | source = <ref name="IPC Historical Results">{{Cite web|url=https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/hira/web/country/code/AUS|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115112534/https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/hira/web/country/code/AUS|url-status=dead|archive-date=2019-11-15|title=IPC Historical Results Archive - Australia at the Paralympic Games|last=Committee|first=Alexander Picolin, International Paralympic|website=db.ipc-services.org|access-date=2016-10-24}}</ref>
}}

Best results in non-medalling sports:
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
! colspan=4| Summer
|-
| Sport
| Rank
| Athlete
| Event & Year
|-
| [[File:Wheelchair badminton pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Badminton at the Summer Paralympics|Badminton]] || 9th || [[Grant Manzoney]] || [[Badminton at the 2020 Summer Paralympics – Men's singles WH2|Men's singles WH2 in 2020]]
|-
| [[File:Football 5-a-side pictogram (Paralympics).svg|20px]] [[Football 5-a-side at the Summer Paralympics|Football 5-a-side]] || colspan=3| ''Did not participate''
|-
| [[File:Goalball pictogram (Paralympics).svg|25px]] [[Goalball at the Summer Paralympics|Goalball]] || 4th || [[Australia men's national goalball team|Australia men's team]] || [[Goalball at the 1996 Summer Paralympics#Men's tournament|Men's tournament in 1996]]
|-
| [[File:Sitting volleyball pictogram (Paralympics).svg|25px]] [[Volleyball at the Summer Paralympics|Volleyball]] || 8th || [[Australia men's national sitting volleyball team|Australia men's team]] || [[Volleyball at the 2000 Summer Paralympics|Men's tournament in 2000]]
|}

== Winter Games ==


=== Medal table ===

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" border="1" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!scope="col" style="width:10em;"|Games
!scope="col" style="background-color:gold; font-weight:bold;"|Gold
!scope="col" style="background-color:silver; font-weight:bold;"|Silver
!scope="col" style="background-color:#cc9966; font-weight:bold;"|Bronze
!scope="col" |Total
!style="width:4.5em; font-weight:bold;"|Rank
!style="width:4.5em; font-weight:bold;"|Competitors
!style="width:4.5em; font-weight:bold;"|Officials
!style="width:4.5em; font-weight:bold;"|Flag Bearer Opening
!style="width:4.5em; font-weight:bold;"|Flag Bearer Closing
|-
|align=left| [[1976 Winter Paralympics|1976 Örnsköldsvik]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || - || 0*{{ref label|id4|^|none}}||1 ||[[Ron Finneran]] ||
|-
|align=left| [[1980 Winter Paralympics|1980 Geilo]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || - || 2|| || ||
|-
|align=left| [[1984 Winter Paralympics|1984 Innsbruck]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || - ||3 || || ||
|-
|align=left| [[1988 Winter Paralympics|1988 Innsbruck]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 0 || - ||5 || || ||
|-
|align=left| [[1992 Winter Paralympics|1992 Tignes-Albertville]] || 1 || 1 || 2 || 4 || 12 || 5|| || ||
|-
|align=left| [[1994 Winter Paralympics|1994 Lillehammer]] || 3 || '''2''' || '''4''' || '''9''' || 9 ||6 || || ||
|-
|align=left| [[1998 Winter Paralympics|1998 Nagano]] || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2 || 16 ||4 || ||[[James Patterson (skier)|James Patterson]] ||
|-
|align=left| [[2002 Winter Paralympics|2002 Salt Lake City]] || '''6''' || 1 || 0 || 7 || 8 || 6 ||||[[Michael Milton (skier)|Michael Milton]]|| [[Bart Bunting]]
|-
|align=left| [[2006 Winter Paralympics|2006 Turin]] || 0 || 1 || 1 || 2 || 13 ||10 ||||[[Michael Milton (skier)|Michael Milton]]|| [[Toby Kane]]
|-
|align=left| [[2010 Winter Paralympics|2010 Vancouver]] || 0 || 1 || 3 || 4 || 16 ||11 ||||[[Toby Kane]] || [[Cameron Rahles-Rahbula]]
|-
|align=left| [[2014 Winter Paralympics|2014 Sochi]] ||0  || 0 ||2 ||2  ||19  ||7 ||||[[Cameron Rahles-Rahbula]] ||[[Ben Tudhope]]
|- class="sortbottom" align=center
|-
|align=left| [[2018 Winter Paralympics|2018 PyeongChang]] ||1||0  ||3 || 4 ||15||15 ||||[[Joany Badenhorst]] ||[[Melissa Perrine]]
|-
|align=left| [[2022 Winter Paralympics|2022 Beijing]] ||0||0 ||1|| 1||17||9 ||||[[Melissa Perrine]] <br/> [[Mitchell Gourley]] ||[[Ben Tudhope]]
|-
|- class="sortbottom" align=center
! Total || 12 || 6 || 17 || 35
|}
'''Notes''':{{note label|id4||none}}Ron Finneran attended and was expected to compete, carrying the flag during the Opening Ceremony, but due to the Paralympics lacking a limb impairment category other than amputee, he was excluded, and instead acted as an official at the games.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Australia at the Örnsköldsvik Winter Paralympics 1976 |url=https://paralympichistory.org.au/article/australia-ornskoldsvik-winter-paralympics/?article_decade=64%2C65%2C66&article_competition=&article_sport=&article_category=&article_media_type=&scrubber=87.30993285939968 |access-date=12 August 2024 |website=Paralympics Australia |language=en}}</ref>

=== Medals by winter sport 1980–2022 ===

{{Medals table
 | caption    = 
 | team       = Sport
 | hide_rank  = yes
 | leading    = 
 | gold_1  = 11 | silver_1  = 6 | bronze_1  = 15 | name_1  = [[File:Alpine skiing - Paralympic pictogram.svg|20px]] [[Alpine skiing at the Winter Paralympics|Alpine skiing]]
 | gold_2  = 1 | silver_2  = 0 | bronze_2  = 2 | name_2  = [[File:Snowboarding - Paralympic pictogram.svg|20px]] [[Snowboarding at the Winter Paralympics|Snowboarding]]
}}

== Summary of Australia's involvement ==
[[File:Xx0960 - Australian team Singapore en route to Rome - 3a - Scan.JPG|thumb|Australian team in Singapore en route to Rome for the [[1960 Summer Paralympics]].|180x180px]]

===[[Australia at the 1960 Summer Paralympics|1960 Summer Paralympics]]===

Athlete, [[Daphne Ceeney|Daphne Hilton (Ceeney)]] was Australia's first ever swimmer who competed at the Rome 1960 Games.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/697993/APC_Rio_2016_Media_Guide_FINAL_low_res.pdf|title=Media Guide Rio 2016 Paralympic Games|publisher=Australian Paralympic Committee|year=2016|pages=17, 20, 22–24, 27–30, 37, 59, 94, 119|access-date=2016-10-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920053408/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/697993/APC_Rio_2016_Media_Guide_FINAL_low_res.pdf|archive-date=2016-09-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> This games were the only Paralympic Games in which Australia did not win a gold medal in athletics.<ref name=":0" />

===[[Australia at the 1964 Summer Paralympics|1964 Summer Paralympics]]===

With the games in Tokyo, Australia was able to send a large contingent of athletes as a result of the shorter than typical journey.<ref name=":0" /> Australia placed fourth with a total of 31 overall medals; 12 gold medals, 10 silver medals and 9 bronze medals.

===[[Australia at the 1968 Summer Paralympics|1968 Summer Paralympics]]===

Australia placed fourth again, with 38 overall medals; 15 gold, 16 silver and 7 bronze.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=From Stoke Mandeville to Sochi: A History of the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games|last=Brittain|first=Ian|publisher=Common Ground Publishing|year=2014|isbn=978-1-61229-412-4|location=Champaign, Ill|pages=96, 171, 186, 213, 215–222}}</ref> [[Lorraine Dodd]] was an outstanding athlete at these games, setting three Swimming records for her class, all on the same day.

=== [[Australia at the 1972 Summer Paralympics|1972 Summer Paralympics]] ===
Australian won 25 medals - 6 gold, 9 silver and 10 bronze medals in six sports. Australia finished 11th on the gold medal table and 9th on the total medal table.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/results/historical?type=participation&games=1972PG&sport=all|title=Participants Heidelberg 1972 Paralympic Games|website=International Paralympic Committee}}</ref> [[Libby Kosmala|Elizabeth "Libby" Kosmala]] competed in her first Paralympics, and won a bronze medal in swimming in the Women's 3x50 m Medley Relay 2–4 event, and participated in other swimming and athletics events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://london2012.paralympic.org.au/elizabeth-kosmala|title=Elizabeth Kosmala {{!}} London 2012 - Official Australian Paralympic Team Website|website=london2012.paralympic.org.au|access-date=2016-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611065919/http://london2012.paralympic.org.au/elizabeth-kosmala|archive-date=2016-06-11|url-status=dead}}</ref>[[File:Xx0876 - Eric Russell with Ludwig Guttmann at 1976 Paralympics - 3b - Scan.jpg|thumb|Australian athlete [[Eric Russell (athlete)|Eric Russell]] with [[Ludwig Guttmann]] at the [[1976 Summer Paralympics]]|206x206px|left]]

===[[Australia at the 1976 Summer Paralympics|1976 Summer Paralympics]]===
The [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] and [[Paralympic Games]] both aim to be apolitical; despite this, at the [[1976 Summer Paralympics|1976 Paralympic Games]], politics intruded into the games. [[Apartheid|Apartheid practices]] in South Africa brought controversy with the country's invitation to and inclusion in the games. Australian athlete, [[Eric Russell (athlete)|Eric Russell]] took a stance against politics at the Paralympic Games when he refused his gold medal in the class 3 discus event as a protest. He later accepted the medal from [[Ludwig Guttmann|Dr Guttman]] after a press conference, explaining his position.<ref name=":1" />

For the first time, television coverage of the Paralympics was broadcast daily to more than 600,000 viewers around the world.<ref name=":0" />

=== [[Australia at the 1976 Winter Paralympics|1976 Winter Paralympics]] ===
This Paralympic Games were the first Winter Paralympic Games. Australia was represented by one athlete, [[Ron Finneran]]; however, he was disqualified as his disability did not meet event classifications.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-219092551/listen|title=Ron Finneran interviewed by Mick Fogarty in the Australian Centre for Paralympic Studies oral history... [nla.obj-219092551] {{!}} Digital Collection - National Library of Australia|website=nla.gov.au|access-date=2016-10-19}}</ref>[[File:1980 Amputee Team - Holland.jpg|thumb|The Australian Team at the [[1980 Summer Paralympics|1980 Summer Paralympic Games]], in The Netherlands.]]

=== [[Australia at the 1980 Winter Paralympics|1980 Winter Paralympics]] ===
This is the first Winter Paralympics that Australia competed in, but did not medal.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org.au/ParalympicGames/PastGamesWinter.aspx |title=Past Games, Winter - Australian Paralympic Committee |date=2009-09-12 |access-date=2016-10-19 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912233044/http://www.paralympic.org.au/ParalympicGames/PastGamesWinter.aspx |archive-date=2009-09-12 }}</ref> Australia had two competitors, [[Kyrra Grunnsund]] and Peter Rickards, who participated in Slalom and Middle Distance Alpine Skiing respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/results/historical|title=Paralympic Results & Historical Records|website=www.paralympic.org|access-date=2016-10-19}}</ref>

=== [[Australia at the 1980 Summer Paralympics|1980 Summer Paralympics]] ===
It was the 6th Summer Paralympic game in which Australia competed. Australia won 55 medals – 12 gold, 21 silver and 22 bronze medals. Australia competed in 10 sports and won medals in 6 sports. It finished 14th on the gold medal table and 9th on the total medal table.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/hira/web/competition/code/PG1980|title=IPC Historical Results Archive - Arnhem 1980 Paralympic Games|last=International Paralympic Committee|website=db.ipc-services.org|access-date=2016-10-26|archive-date=2019-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719174831/https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/hira/web/competition/code/PG1980|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== [[Australia at the 1984 Winter Paralympics|1984 Winter Paralympics]] ===
Australia did not win a medal, but was strongly represented by Rodney Mills in cross-country and [[Kyrra Grunnsund]] and Andrew Temple in the alpine events of slalom, giant slalom and downhill.<ref name=":4" />
[[File:Xx0684 - Australian amputee team 1984 Paralympics New York - 3b - Cropped scan.jpg|left|thumb|The Australian amputee team at the [[1984 Summer Paralympics|1984 New York Paralympic Games]].]]

=== [[Australia at the 1984 Summer Paralympics|1984 Summer Paralympics]] ===
In 1984, Australia more than doubled its previous highest medal count with a tally of  154 medals. For the first time, four Cerebral Palsy athletes and one "Les Autres" athlete participated in the Games. Each won medals: [[Robert Walden (swimmer)|Robert Walden]] (swimming) won four gold medals, [[Terry Biggs]] (table tennis) won a gold medal, [[Lyn Coleman]] (cycling) won silver medal and [[Malcom Chalmers]] (swimming) won a gold, silver and two bronze medals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/hira/web/index|title=Australian Results at the 1976 Paralympics|website=International Paralympic Committee Results Database}}</ref>
[[File:Xx0188 - 1988 winter paralympics - 3b - scans (11).jpg|thumb|[[Michael Milton (skier)|Michael Milton]] at the [[1988 Winter Paralympics]].]]

=== [[Australia at the 1988 Winter Paralympics|1988 Winter Paralympics]] ===
Australia sent five athletes; however, failed to medal.<ref name="IPC Historical Results" /> These athletes were Michael Collins, [[Kyrra Grunnsund]], Evan Hodge, [[Michael Milton (skier)|Michael Milton]] and [[David Munk]], who all competed in both men's downhill, men's giant slalom and men's slalom, except [[David Munk|Munk]] who only competed in the latter two events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://db.ipc-services.org/sdms/hira/web/index|title=IPC Historical Results Archive - Web|last=Committee|first=Alexander Picolin, International Paralympic|website=db.ipc-services.org|access-date=2016-10-24}}</ref>

=== [[Australia at the 1988 Summer Paralympics|1988 Summer Paralympics]] ===
Australia competed in 16 events, achieving 23 gold medals in three sports, Athletics, Swimming and Lawn Bowls.<ref name="IPC Historical Results" /> Overall, Australia received 95 medals, 23 gold, 34 silver and 38 bronze. Australian athletes broke eight records during the Games.<ref name="IPC Historical Results" />

===[[Australia at the 1992 Winter Paralympics|1992 Winter Paralympics]]===
Australia's first ever gold medal at an [[Summer Olympic Games|Olympic]] or [[Winter Paralympic Games|Paralympic Winter Games]] was won by [[Michael Milton (skier)|Michael Milton]] when he won the LW2 Slalom event.<ref name=":1" /> There are no accurate results for the Australian Paralympic team performances at Winter Games previous to 1992; however, it is known that no-one medalled for Australia until the 1992 Paralympics.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/625292/SAlt_Lake_City.pdf|title=AUSTRALIAN TEAM Media Guide 2002 Salt Lake City Paralympic Games|publisher=Australian Paralympic Committee|year=2002|pages=5|access-date=2016-10-03|archive-date=2016-03-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318113814/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/625292/SAlt_Lake_City.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Opening ceremony of 1992 Paralympic Games.jpg|thumb|Australian Team marching at the opening ceremony at the Barcelona [[1992 Summer Paralympics|1992 Paralympic Games]]|left]]

===[[Australia at the 1992 Summer Paralympics|1992 Summer Paralympics]]===
The ID Australian men's swimming team was totally dominant in Madrid, with [[Joseph Walker (swimmer)|Joseph Walker]] being the undoubted star winning nine gold medals (five individual, four relay) from all events that him competed and setting two world records.<ref name=":1" />[[File:Dd0394- Lillehammer Winter Games, M.Milton- 3b- scanned photo.jpg|thumb|Australian Paralympian [[Michael Milton (skier)|Michael Milton]] at the [[1994 Winter Paralympics|1994 Winter Games]] in Lillehammer]]

=== [[Australia at the 1994 Winter Paralympics|1994 Winter Paralympics]] ===
Australia's most successful Winter Paralympic Games remain the [[1994 Winter Paralympics|1994 Winter Paralympic Games]], when five athletes took the podium on 9 different occasions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/625290/Torino.pdf|title=2006 Australian Paralympic Committee Media guide : 2006 Torino Winter Paralympics|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161025033040/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/625290/Torino.pdf|archive-date=2016-10-25|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[File:68 ACPS Atlanta 1996 Basketball Troy Sachs.jpg|thumb|left|232x232px|Australian men's [[wheelchair basketball]]er [[Troy Sachs]] as he passes the ball in the gold medal game against Great Britain at the [[1996 Summer Paralympics|1996 Paralympic Games]]]]

===[[Australia at the 1996 Summer Paralympics|1996 Summer Paralympics]]===
Australia was ranked 2nd in the final medal table with 106 overall medals; 42 gold; 37 silver; 27 bronze. This success has been attributed to the introduction of the Australian Paralympic Committee's Paralympic Preparation Program.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=2004 Australian Paralympic Committee Media guide : 2004 Athens [Summer Paralympics] |url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/625297/Athens_2004.pdf |access-date=2016-10-24 |archive-date=2016-03-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318113818/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/625297/Athens_2004.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Australia's team was half that of the host nation who lead the final medal table.<ref name=":5" />

In the [[Wheelchair basketball|Wheelchair Basketball]] match, Australia vs [[Great Britain at the 1996 Summer Paralympics|Great Britain]], [[Troy Sachs]] recorded the highest number of individual points scored.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=McDonald|first=Margaret|title=THE XI PARALYMPIC GAMES|journal=Olympic Review}}</ref> Sachs scored 42 points in a single game for Australia at the [[1996 Summer Paralympics|Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games]], which remains the highest ever individual score by a basketballer at the Paralympic Games. He is also Australia's most awarded basketballer with two gold and one silver medal.<ref name=":0" />

At the Atlanta Summer Paralympics, there was the largest athletics away gold medal haul to date of 19 Gold medals.<ref name=":0" />

=== [[Australia at the 1998 Winter Paralympics|1998 Winter Paralympics]] ===
Australia collected two medals, one gold and one bronze, from the 1998 Games after sending four competitors. [[James Patterson (skier)|James Patterson]] competed in Alpine Skiing, winning gold in the men's downhill and bronze in men's slalom. [[File:281000 - Athletics wheelchair racing Louise Sauvage action - 3b - 2000 Sydney race photo.jpg|thumb|200px|[[Louise Sauvage]] in action at the [[2000 Summer Paralympics|2000 Paralympic Games]] in Sydney]]

===[[Australia at the 2000 Summer Paralympics|2000 Summer Paralympics]]===

The [[2000 Summer Paralympics|2000 Sydney Summer Paralympic Games]] are Australia's most successful Paralympic games to date. In the final medal tally, Australia was ranked first with 149 overall medals; 63 gold, 39 silver, and 47 bronze medals.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":1" /> Australia was represented by their largest team ever. The success of the team combined with extensive media coverage went a long way to changing public attitudes towards Paralympic athletes and understanding them as elite sportspeople.<ref name=":0" />

Australian values were represented well and truly throughout the Opening and Closing Ceremonies with a distinctly Aboriginal feel at the Opening ceremony and in true Australian traditions, a party atmosphere to the closing ceremony. At the Opening Ceremony, the Paralympic flame was lit by [[Louise Sauvage]], one of Australia's biggest Paralympic athlete.

[[Louise Sauvage|Sauvage]] and [[Tim Sullivan (athlete)|Tim Sullivan]] both competed in this games and found outstanding success in their individual events.  [[Tim Sullivan (athlete)|Sullivan]] is Australia's most successful athletics athlete at a single Games, winning five gold medals in Sydney 2000.<ref name=":0" />

===[[Australia at the 2002 Winter Paralympics|2002 Winter Paralympics]]===

Australia's best performance at Winter Paralympics winning six gold and one bronze medal at the [[Australia at the 2002 Winter Paralympics|2002 Winter Paralympics]]. Of these medals, four were won by Michael Milton. Milton becoming the first athlete in his class to claim a clean sweep of gold medals across the four alpine disciplines when he won gold in all four of his events – [[Downhill (ski competition)|Downhill]], [[Slalom skiing|slalom]], [[giant slalom]], and [[super-G]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.paralympic.org/results/historical|title=Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games Results|publisher=International Paralympic Committee Historical Results Database}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/350964/APC_media_guide.pdf|title=2010 Australian Paralympic Committee Media guide : 2010 Vancouver [Winter Paralympics]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318113901/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/350964/APC_media_guide.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-18|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[File:Paralympics Opening Ceremony.jpg|thumb|Paralympics Opening Ceremony in Athens at the [[2004 Summer Paralympics]]. ]]

===[[Australia at the 2004 Summer Paralympics|2004 Summer Paralympics]]===

At the [[2004 Summer Paralympics|2004 Paralympics]], Australia was represented by a considerably smaller team than that of the [[2000 Summer Paralympics]] in Sydney; however, ranked second overall medals behind China.<ref name=":0" /> The reduced team number was as a result of a strict selection criterion set by the APC and sports meant that only athletes with the potential to win a medal were on the Australian team.<ref name=":0" />

=== [[Australia at the 2006 Winter Paralympics|2006 Winter Paralympics]] ===
Australia took 10 athletes to compete in 3 sports and acquired a silver and a bronze medal to finish equal 13th on the overall medal table. Michael Milton won a silver medal in his event in his fifth and final Winter Paralympic Games, retiring as Australia's most successful Winter Paralympian ever.<ref name="IPC Historical Results" /> Emily Jansen competed, as Australia's first female competitor at a Winter Paralympics, in two of the four alpine events.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.racingandsports.com.au/en/sports-games-news/jansen-first-aussie-woman-at-paralympics-story-81270|title=Jansen first Aussie woman at Paralympics|website=www.racingandsports.com.au|access-date=2016-10-24}}</ref>

===[[Australia at the 2008 Summer Paralympics|2008 Summer Paralympics]]===

Australia ranked fourth overall behind China, Great Britain, and USA in the gold medal table.<ref name=":0" /> The Beijing Games were the biggest ever with more athletes and countries competing across more sports than ever before. Australia sent their biggest delegation to an away Games to date with 167 athletes, 95 males and 72 females, who competed in 13 out of the 20 sports contested.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/291321/Australian_Paralympic_Committee_Annual_Report_2007-2008.pdf|title=Australian Paralympic Committee Annual Report 2007-2008}}</ref> [[Adaptive rowing|Rowing]] was added to the Paralympic program with the Australian doubles crew winning silver.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/625299/London_2012.pdf|title=2012 Australian Paralympic Committee Media guide : 2012 London [Summer] Paralympic Games|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318113911/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/625299/London_2012.pdf|archive-date=2016-03-18|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Tim Sullivan (athlete)|Timothy Sullivan]] became Australia's leading gold medallist in Paralympic History, winning 10 gold medals.<ref name=":0" /> [[File:Jessica Gallagher and guide Christian Geiger.jpg|left|thumb|311x311px|Australian Skier [[Jessica Gallagher]] (right) and guide [[Christian Geiger]] (left), 2014 Australian Paralympic Team Athlete.]]

=== [[Australia at the 2010 Winter Paralympics|2010 Winter Paralympics]] ===
Australia took its largest team to date, of 14 athletes and their guides, to the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/625289/Socchi.pdf|title=2014 Australian Paralympic Committee Media guide : 2014 Sochi Winter Paralympic Games|access-date=2016-10-24|archive-date=2016-03-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309185423/https://www.clearinghouseforsport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/625289/Socchi.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Despite the large team, Australia finished 16th on the overall medal tally, winning four medals.<ref name=":6" /> Australia had their first Australian female to win a medal at the Paralympic Winter Games, when [[Jessica Gallagher]] won bronze in the slalom.<ref name=":6" />

===[[Australia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics|2012 Summer Paralympics]]===
[[File:010912 - Matthew Cowdrey - 3b - 2012 Summer Paralympics (02).jpg|thumb|Australian Paralympic team member [[Matthew Cowdrey]] at the [[2012 Summer Paralympics|2012 Summer Paralympic Games]] in London]]Australia finished fifth in the medal tally with 32 gold, 23 silver and 30 bronze medals, which medals that were won in nine of the 13 sports contested by Australian athletes.<ref name=":0" /> Australia achieved 16 world records and 35 Paralympic Records with performances from such athletes as: [[Todd Hodgetts]] (Shot Put), [[Kelly Cartwright]] (Long Jump), [[Susan Powell (cyclist)|Susan Powell]] (Individual Pursuit), [[Bradley Mark]] (10m Air Rifle), [[Brenden Hall]] (400m Freestyle) and [[Blake Cochrane]] (100m Breaststroke). In total Australia had 93 medallists of which 25 were multi-medallists, while gold medallist there was 40 and eight of these were multi-gold medallists.<ref name=":0" />

London was the best performance by Australia's Paralympic swim team since 1984. Men's 4 × 100 m Freestyle Relay swim team achieved Australia's 1000th Summer Paralympic Games medal (Australia's 41st of the Games).

[[Jacqueline Freney]] was the most successful athlete from any nation, winning eight gold medals from eight events while her swimming teammate [[Matthew Cowdrey]] became the most successful Australian Paralympian of all-time by winning his 13th career gold medal at his third Games.<ref name=":0" /> Matthew Cowdrey won gold on day seven in Men's 50m Freestyle S9 Final, also breaking the world record which still stands at 25.13seconds. The victory gave Cowdrey (SA) his 13th career gold medal from three Games.<ref name=":0" />

The [[Australia national wheelchair rugby team|Australian wheelchair rugby team]] won its first Paralympic gold medal after claiming silver at the last two major tournaments (Beijing 2008, World Champs 2010).[[File:2014 Opening ceremony.jpg|thumb|The Australian Team marches at the Opening Ceremony of the Sochi [[2014 Winter Paralympics|2014 Paralympic Winter Games]], led by flagbearer [[Cameron Rahles-Rahbula]].]]

The youngest competitor in the London Games, 13-year-old & 300 days [[Maddison Elliott]] from Newcastle, NSW, claimed one gold, one silver, and two bronze medals and had the pleasure of presenting [[Prince Harry]] with Australian's Paralympian toy Mascot “Lizzie” the Frill-necked Lizard.<ref name=":0" />

=== [[Australia at the 2014 Winter Paralympics|2014 Winter Paralympics]] ===
Australia came away from these games with two medals, a disappointing result. Australian Paralympic Chief Executive Jason Hellwig said that 'we were absolutely disappointed we didn't get the mission done to win that gold medal', however, he also described it as the most satisfying he had experienced because of the hardship the team had gone through.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/winter-olympics/sochi-winter-paralympics-end-in-style-20140316-hvjgj|title=Sochi Winter Paralympics end in style|last=Paxinos|first=Stathi|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en-US|access-date=2016-10-24}}</ref> A possible reason for the Australian Team's disappointing performance was the death of team member [[Matthew Robinson (snowboarder)|Matthew Robinson]], some weeks prior to the Games after an accident at the [[IPC Alpine Skiing World Cup]] in [[La Molina (ski resort)|La Molina]], [[Spain]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/more-sports/australian-paralympian-matthew-robinson-dies-on-way-home-from-spain-world-cup/story-fnii0hmo-1226834405912|title=Australian Paralympian Matthew Robinson dies on way home from Spain World Cup|newspaper=CourierMail|access-date=2016-10-24}}</ref>[[File:Katie Kelly and guide in Rio 2016.jpg|thumb|[[Katie Kelly (paratriathlete)|Katie Kelly]] & her guide [[Michellie Jones]] competing in [[Paratriathlon at the 2016 Summer Paralympics|Paratriathlon]] class PT4, PT2 e PT5, in Copacabana Beach, Rio at the [[2016 Summer Paralympics]].|left]]

===[[Australia at the 2016 Summer Paralympics|2016 Summer Paralympics]]===
The Australian team comprised 177 athletes of which 103 are men and 74 are women.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/sport/olympics/rio-paralympic-games-2016-guide-to-athletes-fast-facts-tv-and-numbers-that-matter/news-story/c0f985365c1b52aa416e89809b7571ab|title=Rio Paralympic Games 2016: Ultimate guide, fun facts|access-date=2016-10-03}}</ref> Incredibly 89 athletes (50%) made their Paralympic debut in 2016. The average age of athletes on the Aussie team 2016 is 29.2 years. The average age of the male athletes is 29.1 years and the average age of female athletes is 29.4 years.<ref name=":2" />

In Rio there were an extraordinary eight Australian athletes who had competed in two or more different sports:
* [[Dylan Alcott]] competed in his third Paralympic games in two different sports, wheelchair basketball in 2008 and 2012 and wheelchair tennis. Alcott was successful in his transition from wheelchair basketball to wheelchair tennis, winning two gold medals in both the men's quad wheelchair tennis doubles and singles.<ref name=":2" /> He became the fifth Australian Paralympian to win gold medals in two sports.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/09/16/dylan-alcott-rare-australian-record-gold-two-sports/|title=Dylan Alcott: Rare Australian record of gold in two sports|date=2016-09-16|website=The Roar|access-date=2016-10-24}}</ref> 
* [[Daniela Di Toro]] competed in her sixth Paralympics, having competed in [[wheelchair tennis]] from 1996 to 2012, winning silver and bronze medal each in 2000 and 2004 respectively.<ref name=":0" /> At the Rio Paralympics, Daniela competed in [[Para table tennis|table tennis]]. 
* [[Jessica Gallagher]] won bronze in her fourth Paralympics in a third Paralympic sport, cycling, after competing in alpine skiing (2010 and 2014 winning bronze both times), and athletics (2012).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
* At 74 years of age, [[Libby Kosmala]] was the oldest athlete selected for the [[2016 Summer Paralympics]].<ref name=":2" /> The Rio Paralympics was Kosmala's twelfth Games, having previously competed in athletics, swimming, and shooting at the Paralympic Games since 1972. Kosmala won 9 gold and 1 silver medals over that time.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-05/oldest-rio-paralympian-libby-kosmala-ready-to-bring-home-gold/7477484|title=Oldest Rio Paralympian ready to bring home gold|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]|date=2016-06-05|language=en-AU|access-date=2016-10-03}}</ref> 
* [[Claire McLean]] competed in [[Paratriathlon at the 2016 Summer Paralympics|Paratriathlon]] in Rio but had previously competed in cycling at the 2004 Athens Paralympics, placing silver.<ref name=":0" />
* [[Kieran Modra]] won bronze in the men's B road time trial in his eighth Paralympics, having competed in athletics in 1988, swimming in 1992 (winning 2 bronze), and cycling from 1996 to 2016 (winning 5 golds, and 2 silvers in that time).<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />  
* Previously, [[Liesl Tesch]] competed in [[wheelchair basketball]] from 1992 to 2008 (winning 2 silver and 1 bronze medals). In 2012 and 2016, Tesch transitioned to sailing, winning a gold medal each time.<ref name=":2" /> 
* [[Amanda Reid]] medalled silver in cycling in Rio after previously swimming in London.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

[[File:310812 - Brenden Hall - 3b - 2012 Summer Paralympics (02).jpg|thumb|Australian Paralympic team member [[Brenden Hall]] at the [[2012 Summer Paralympics|2012 Summer Paralympic Games]] in London.]]

Notable achievements at the Games 
* Australia won its first medal in archery since 1968, when [[Jonathon Milne]] won bronze in the men's archery individual compound W1.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://www.theroar.com.au/2016/09/20/thats-wrap-australia-rio-paralympics/|title=That's a wrap: Australia at the Rio Paralympics|date=2016-09-20|website=The Roar|access-date=2016-10-24}}</ref>
* Paracanoe was debuted at the Rio 2016 Summer Paralympics and resulted in Curtis McGarth becoming Australia's first gold medallist in the sport.<ref name=":7" /> Paratriathlon also debuted, resulting in Katie Kelly and her guide Michellie Jones won the gold medal.<ref name=":7" />  
* Back-to-back winners of their events from the London 2012 Paralympic Games were: [[Ellie Cole]] (swimming), [[Brenden Hall]] (swimming), [[David Nicholas]] (cycling), [[Carol Cooke]] (cycling), [[Daniel Fitzgibbon]] / [[Liesl Tesch]] (sailing) and the [[Australia national wheelchair rugby team|wheelchair rugby team]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/rio-paralympics-2016-australias-steelers-record-double-overtime-victory-over-united-states-to-win-gold-medal-20160918-grj5c7.html|title=Rio Paralympics 2016: Australia's Steelers record double overtime victory over United States to win gold medal|last=Spits|first=Scott|date=19 September 2016|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|access-date=21 September 2016}}</ref>

===[[Australia at the 2018 Winter Paralympics|2018 Winter Paralympics]]===
Team of 12 athletes and three guides represented Australia. In snowboarding [[Simon Patmore]] won a gold and bronze medal and in alpine skiing [[Melissa Perrine]] won two bronze medals. Australia was ranked 15th on the medal table.

===[[Australia at the 2020 Summer Paralympics|2020 Summer Paralympics]]===
[[File:230821 Flagbearer announcement Di Toro Batt Tokyo KM edit.jpg|right|alt=Daniela di Toro and Ryley Batt in wheelchairs jointly holding the Australian flag.|thumb|Daniela di Toro and Ryley Batt at the announcement that they would jointly carry the Australian flag in the opening ceremony at the Tokyo Paralympics.]]

Australia sent its largest away team - 179 athletes to a Summer Paralympics. Australia finished eighth on the gold medal table and sixth on the total medals table. The Games were postponed one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Badminton and taekwondo made their Paralympic debuts.<br/>
* Multiple gold medallists: [[William Martin (swimmer)|William Martin]] (swimming) - 3 gold, 1 silver ; [[Madison de Rozario]] (athletics) - 2 gold, 1 bronze ;  [[Curtis McGrath]] (canoeing) - 2 gold ; [[Ben Popham]] (swimming) - 2 gold, 1 silver ;  [[Rowan Crothers]] (swimming) - 2 gold, 1 silver.
* [[Ellie Cole]] with two bronze medals became Australia's leading female Paralympic medallist with 17 medals - 6 gold, 5 silver, 6 bronze.
* Gold medallists repeating Rio Paralympics gold - [[James Turner (parathlete)|James Turner]] (athletics), [[Vanessa Low]] (athletics), [[Curtis McGrath]] (canoeing), [[Lakeisha Patterson]] (swimming), [[Rachael Watson]] (swimming), [[Dylan Alcott]] (wheelchair tennis).

===[[Australia at the 2022  Winter Paralympics|2022 Winter Paralympics]]===
Team of 7 athletes and two guides represented Australia. In snowboarding [[Ben Tudhope]] won a bronze medal. Australia was ranked 17th on the medal table.

== Interesting facts ==
[[File:Gallagher and Janssen on the blocks.jpg|thumb|[[Jessica Gallagher]] (left) and [[Madison Janssen]] (right) prepare to race in the Women's B/VI 1000m time trial final in Rio at the 2016 Summer Paralympics.]]

'''Leading Australian Summer Paralympians 1960–2020<ref name="apc">{{cite web|url=http://www.london2012.paralympic.org.au/sites/london2012.paralympic.org.au/files/uploads/APC_London%20Paralympic%20Media%20Guide%202012_Web.pdf|title=Media Guide : London 2012 Paralympic Games|publisher=Australian Paralympic Committee|work=Australian Paralympic Committee Website|access-date=30 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120829040909/http://london2012.paralympic.org.au/sites/london2012.paralympic.org.au/files/uploads/APC_London%20Paralympic%20Media%20Guide%202012_Web.pdf|archive-date=2012-08-29|url-status=dead}}</ref>'''

{{Medals table
 | caption    = 
 | team       = Athlete
 | hide_rank  = yes
 | leading    = 
 | gold_1  = 13  | silver_1  = 7   | bronze_1  = 3   | name_1  = [[Matthew Cowdrey]] 
 | gold_2  = 10  | silver_2  = 0   | bronze_2  = 0   | name_2  = [[Timothy Sullivan (athlete)|Timothy Sullivan]] 
 | gold_3  = 9   | silver_3  = 4   | bronze_3  = 0   | name_3  = [[Louise Sauvage]] 
 | gold_4  = 9   | silver_4  = 3   | bronze_4  = 4   | name_4  = [[Priya Cooper]] 
 | gold_5  = 9   | silver_5  = 3   | bronze_5  = 0   | name_5  = [[Libby Kosmala]] 
 | gold_6  = 8   | silver_6  = 0   | bronze_6  = 3   | name_6  = [[Jacqueline Freney]] 
 | gold_7  = 6   | silver_7  = 6   | bronze_7  = 3   | name_7  = [[Neil Fuller]] 
 | gold_8  = 6   | silver_8  = 5   | bronze_8  = 6   | name_8  = [[Ellie Cole]] 
 | gold_9  = 6   | silver_9  = 4   | bronze_9  = 3   | name_9  = [[Heath Francis]] 
 | gold_10 = 6   | silver_10 = 4   | bronze_10 = 0   | name_10 = [[Tracey Freeman]] 
 | gold_11 = 6   | silver_11 = 2   | bronze_11 = 3   | name_11 = [[Russell Short]] 
 | gold_12 = 6   | silver_12 = 0   | bronze_12 = 3   | name_12 = [[Darren Thrupp]] 
 | gold_13 = 6   | silver_13 = 0   | bronze_13 = 0   | name_13 = [[Siobhan Paton]] 
 | gold_14 = 5   | silver_14 = 8   | bronze_14 = 6   | name_14 = [[Kingsley Bugarin]] 
}}

 
'''Leading Australian Winter Paralympic medallists 1976–2014'''
{{Medals table
 | caption    = 
 | team       = Athlete
 | hide_rank  = yes
 | leading    = 
 | gold_1  = 6   | silver_1  = 3   | bronze_1  = 2   | name_1  = [[Michael Milton (skier)|Michael Milton]] 
 | gold_2  = 2   | silver_2  = 1   | bronze_2  = 0   | name_2  = [[Bart Bunting]]/[[Nathan Chivers]] (Guide) 
 | gold_3  = 2   | silver_3  = 0   | bronze_3  = 1   | name_3  = [[Michael Norton (skier)|Michael Norton]] 
 | gold_4  = 1   | silver_4  = 1   | bronze_4  = 2   | name_4  = [[James Patterson (skier)|James Patterson]] 
 | gold_5  = 0   | silver_5  = 1   | bronze_5  = 0   | name_5  = [[Marty Mayberry]] 
 | gold_6  = 0   | silver_6  = 0   | bronze_6  = 2   | name_6  = [[David Munk]] 
 | gold_7  = 0   | silver_7  = 0   | bronze_7  = 2   | name_7  = [[Cameron Rahles-Rahbula]] 
 | gold_8  = 0   | silver_8  = 0   | bronze_8  = 2   | name_8  = [[Toby Kane]] 
 | gold_9  = 0   | silver_9  = 0   | bronze_9  = 2   | name_9  = [[Jessica Gallagher]] 
}}

=== First Gold medallists ===
* [[Ross Sutton]] won Australia's first gold medal at the [[Summer Paralympics]] in winning the Men's St Nicholas Round open archery at the [[1960 Summer Paralympics]].<ref name=apcnews>{{cite web|title=First Australian Paralympic medals go on display|url=http://www.paralympic.org.au/news/first-australian-paralympic-medals-go-display|website=Australian Paralympic Committee News, 25 March 2013|access-date=13 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141018043317/http://www.paralympic.org.au/news/first-australian-paralympic-medals-go-display|archive-date=2014-10-18|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Daphne Ceeney]] was Australia's first female gold medallist at the [[Summer Paralympics]]. She won two gold medals in swimming events at the [[1960 Summer Paralympics]].<ref name=apcnews />
* [[Michael Milton (skier)|Michael Milton]] became Australia's first  [[Winter Paralympics]] gold medallist in winning at the Men's Slalom LW2 at the [[1992 Winter Paralympics]].

=== Dual Summer / Winter Paralympic medallists ===
* [[Jessica Gallagher]] - Winter [[2010 Winter Paralympics|2010]] and [[2014 Winter Paralympics|2014]] – bronze medals in alpine skiing; Summer [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016]] – 1 bronze in cycling.
* [[Simon Patmore]] - Summer [[2012 Summer Paralympics|2012]] - bronze medal in athletics ; Winter [[2018 Winter Paralympics|2018]] - 1 gold, 1 bronze medal snowboarding.

=== Dual Summer / Winter Paralympians ===
As of the [[2018 Winter Paralympics]], the following Australian athletes have attended both Summer and Winter Games.
* [[Kyrra Grunnsund]] – Winter 1980–1992 (skiing) ; Summer 1992 (athletics)<ref name=australian>{{cite news|title=One leg, two dreams|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/sport/one-leg-two-dreams-of-gold/story-e6frg7mf-1111112971275|access-date=23 January 2013|newspaper=Australian|date=10 February 2007}}</ref>
* [[Anthony Bonaccurso]] – Winter [[1988 Winter Paralympics|1998]] (skiing) ; Summer [[2004 Summer Paralympics|2004]] (tennis)<ref name=australian />
* [[Michael Milton (skier)|Michael Milton]] – Winter 1988–[[2006 Winter Paralympics|2006]] (skiing) ; Summer [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008]] (cycling)
* [[Dominic Monypenny]] - Summer [[2008 Summer Paralympics|2008]] (rowing) ; Winter [[2010 Winter Paralympics|2010]] (cross-country skiing) 
* [[Jessica Gallagher]] – Winter [[2010 Winter Paralympics|2010]]–[[2014 Winter Paralympics|2014]] (skiing) ; Summer [[2012 Summer Paralympics|2012]] (athletics) ; Summer [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016]] (cycling)
* [[Simon Patmore]] - Summer [[2012 Summer Paralympics|2012]] (athletics) ; Winter [[2018 Winter Paralympics|2018]] (snowboard)
* [[Rae Anderson (athlete)|Rae Anderson]] - Summer [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016]] (athletics) ; Winter [[2022 Winter Paralympics|2022]] (alpine skiing)

===Dual Olympian/Paralympian===
* [[Melissa Tapper]]-Summer Olympics: [[2016 Summer Olympics|2016]]-[[2024 Summer Olympics|2024]]. (Table Tennis); Summer Paralympics: [[2016 Summer Paralympics|2016]]-[[2020 Summer Paralympics|2020]]. (Table Tennis) One Silver, Two Bronze.<ref>{{cite web |title=Meet the Aussie Olympian joining a select list of athletes in doing the Paralympic double |url=https://www.nine.com.au/sport/paralympics/paris-2024-news-australian-olympic-table-tennis-player-melissa-tapper-joining-a-select-list-of-athletes-20240814-p5k2g2.html |website=WWOS-Nine |access-date=20 Aug 2024 |language=en |date=14 August 2024}}</ref>

=== Multi-sports Australian Paralympians ===

* [[List of multi-sport Australian Paralympians]] - includes those athletes that have competed in one or more sports at the Summer and Winter Paralympic Games

== See also ==
{{Portal|Australia|Sports}}
* [[Australia at the Summer Paralympics]]
* [[Australia at the Winter Paralympics]]
* [[Australia at the Olympics]]
* [[Australia at the 2016 Summer Paralympics]]

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}


{{Australia at the Paralympics}}
{{Nations at the Paralympics}}
{{National sports teams of Australia}}
{{Australian sport}}

[[Category:Australia at the Paralympics| ]]