Australian Paralympian of the Year finalists announced

Matt Cowdrey, Jacqueline Freney, Evan O’Hanlon, Kelly Cartwright, Felicity Johnson and Ryley Batt are all up for the prestigious Australian award. 05 Nov 2012

Matthew Cowdrey of Australia competing in the Men's 200m Individual Medley - SM9 final during the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

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To be held at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, the awards ceremony will recognise and honour the achievements of this year’s Paralympic team, which finished fifth in the medals tally at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) has announced the six finalists for their 2012 Paralympian of the Year Awards, ahead of this Thursday’s (8 November) awards ceremony.

To be held at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion, the awards ceremony will recognise and honour the achievements of this year’s Paralympic team, which finished fifth in the medals tally at the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The finalists for the 2012 Paralympian of the Year are Matthew Cowdrey (swimming), Jacqueline Freney (swimming), Evan O’Hanlon (athletics), Kelly Cartwright (athletics), Felicity Johnson (cycling) and Ryley Batt (wheelchair rugby).

Swimmers Cowdrey and Freney had remarkable performances in the pool, as they combined combined to win a staggering 13 gold medals for Australia.

Cowdrey’s five golds, two silvers and one bronze made him Australia’s most successful ever Paralympian. Needing three gold medals to surpass sprinter Tim Sullivan’s record haul of 10 golds, Cowdrey’s five gold medal haul took his career total to 13 gold, placing him in Australian sporting record books.

Meanwhile, Freney was in blistering form, as she won eight gold medals in as many events, with three world records, to become the most decorated athlete of the entire Games.

Honoured as Australia’s flag bearer for the Games’ Closing Ceremony, sprinter O’Hanlon excelled on the track to win the coveted 100m and 200m double gold. Collecting both gold medals in world record times, O’Hanlon continued his perfect Paralympic record of five gold medals from five events, all in world record times.

Long jumper Cartwright entered her second Paralympic Games as the reigning world champion in the long jump and 100m sprint. Competing in a combined long jump classification, Cartwright achieved the unimaginable when she jumped 19cm past her world record and personal best to win gold. She went on to win silver in the 100m, capping off a stellar Games for the 23-year-old.

Cycling’s Johnson showed the world why she is the undisputed sprinting queen when she won gold in the 1km time trial with pilot Stephanie Morton. Having won silver at the Beijing 2008 Games, Johnson’s determination for gold never wavered. With a new pilot in Morton, the pair proved unstoppable, winning the 1km event at the 2011 and 2012 World Championships in world-record times before setting a new Paralympic record to take the ultimate golden crown in London.

And Australia’s leading wheelchair rugby scorer Ryley Batt’s impeccable form and uncompromising playing style led the team to its first-ever Paralympic gold. Batt finished the Games with 160 goals to become the leading goal scorer of the tournament, an impressive 31 points in front of the nearest contender.

Awards will also be presented to the best male, female and junior athlete, best coach and best team of 2012.

Winners as well as the entire 2012 Paralympic team will be congratulated the following day at a public welcome home celebration at the Sydney Opera House.

Finalists

Paralympian of the Year

Ryley Batt – wheelchair rugby

Kelly Cartwright – athletics

Matthew Cowdrey – swimming

Jacqueline Freney – swimming

Felicity Johnson – cycling

Evan O’Hanlon – athletics

Male Athlete of the Year

Ryley Batt – wheelchair rugby

Matthew Cowdrey – swimming

Daniel Fitzgibbon – sailing