Jane Howlett,Minister for Sport and Recreation
After Australia's incredible efforts at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, it's now time to get ready to cheer on our Paralympians in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games beginning on August 24.
Congratulations to Tasmanians Todd Hodgetts (shot put), Alexandra Viney (rowing) and Deon Kenzie (1500 metre) for gaining selection in the Australian team for the upcoming games.
This will be Hodgetts' third games having won a Gold medal at the 2012 London Paralympics, which saw him awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2014, and a Bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.
McKenzie will also be hoping to add to his impressive list of career achievements, which includes winning the Silver medal at the 2016 Rio Paralympics along with medals at the 2013, 2015 and 2017 World Para Athletics Championships.
Alex Viney's story is inspirational having survived a serious car accident when she was 18 years old which caused impairments to her left arm. Viney began her journey as a para-athlete in 2018 and placed second in the PR3 event and finished fourth at her first World Championships in 2019.
I wish these three outstanding Tasmanian athletes all the very best for the Games and can't wait to watch them compete.
