100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

Coast's Paralympians to return home with swag of medals

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Ruff deal? More parks but less beach proposed for dogs

Sunshine Coast Council has revealed a draft plan for the region's network of dog exercise areas, with some significant changes proposed for several popular More

Hospital reopens with enhanced services after $10m revamp

A private hospital on the Sunshine Coast has reopened after a $10 million transformation. The Caloundra Private Day Hospital now boasts three state-of-the-art operating theatres More

Why this retro truck is selling 36-cent ice creams

A retro ice cream truck with retro prices will help locals beat the heat at a Sunshine Coast beach this weekend, helping a charity More

Photo of the day: summer stunner

Helen Browne was ready to capture a stunning start to the day at Mooloolaba at just the right time. If you have a photo of More

$450 a day: wave of cruise ships welcomed

Five cruise ships are set to visit the Sunshine Coast over the next two months, bringing about 4000 passengers to the region. Their arrival off More

Jane Stephens: give nutrition a sporting chance

Move. Sweat. Play. Enjoy. Now would you like fries with that? Junk food attached itself, sucker-like, to sport a couple of generations ago. I well recall More

Sunshine Coast athletes can hold their heads high after outstanding performances at the Paralympics.

They claimed a string of medals, including multiple golds, across a variety of sports.

Thomas Gallagher claimed Australia’s first victory of the Games, with a superb performance in the men’s 50m freestyle S10.

“The atmosphere is just amazing and I’m stoked for the result,” he said.

“I do this for my family and my coach.”

He also snared bronze medals in the 100m freestyle S10 and 100m backstroke S10.

Alexa Leary claimed a gold medal and a world record in the women’s 100m freestyle S9, a gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay 34 points, and a silver in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay 34pts.

Leary fell off her bike in a near-fatal accident in 2021, leaving her with brain damage and several long-term injuries.

“It is actually so amazing the fact that when I was in ICU, my dad got a fortune teller,” she said.

“The fortune teller read that I wanted to go to the Paralympics, and now I’m here, I’m like ‘wow, I did it’.”

Alexa Leary (right) after winning gold in the women’s 100m S9 freestyle final. Picture: AAP Image/Delly Carr, via Sport the Library/Paralympics Australia

Ben Hance won the men’s 100m backstroke S14.

Hance, who lost his father Tony earlier this year, set a new world record in his heat before clinching gold in his final.

He paid tribute to his late dad in what he described as “the hardest year of my life” and said “thank you dad”.

He also took silver in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay.

Callum Simpson had an event to remember, including winning gold in the men’s 100m freestyle S18.

“It’s everything I dreamed of, and I finally had my dream … it’s finally come true,” he said.

“It’s amazing, it honestly is, and I wouldn’t be able to get here without my family.”

He also claimed a gold medal by swimming in the heats of the 4x100m medley 34 points, and a silver in the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay 34pts.

Emily Beecroft was part of that team and swam in the final to bring home a gold medal. She also bagged a bronze in the women’s 100m butterfly S9.

Korey Boddington won gold in the men’s time trial C4-5.

“This is unbelievable. I want to tell kids out there to go for their dreams, to fight for them, you got to shoot for the stars,” he said.

He was also awarded a bronze in the mixed team sprint C1-5.

Brenden Hall carried the flag for Australia at the opening ceremony. Picture: AAP.

Ruby Storm captured silver as part of the mixed 4x100m freestyle relay S14. Madeline McTernan also claimed a silver medal as part of that team.

Lakeisha Patterson, who trains on the Sunshine Coast, finished second in the women’s 400m freestyle S9.

Flagbearer Brenden Hall captured bronze in the 400m freestyle S9.

Beau Vernon, Riley Batt, Chris Bond and Emilie Miller earned bronze with the wheelchair rugby team.

Ricky Betar, who trains on the Coast, grabbed bronze in the men’s 200m individual medley S14.

Sunshine Coast Council will host a welcome home celebration for the region’s Olympians and Paralympians at Foundation Square Park in Lightning Lane, next to the City Hall, on September 17, from 10.30am to 1pm.

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

Hidden
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share