Tokyo Paralympics

Meica Horsburgh - Aussie Belles (Goalball)

As the longest serving member of the Australian women’s goalball team, Meica is also the most experienced. Heading to Tokyo to compete in her third Paralympics, Meica is also team Captain, a role she has performed multiple times before.

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Amy Ridley - Aussie Belles (Goalball)

Amy is the newest and youngest member of the Aussie Belles, having been selected to join the team in 2021. Amy is no stranger to goalball though, having discovered the sport in 2017. That was year she participated in Goalball 4 Schools program in NSW and quickly fell in love with the game.

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Raissa Martin - Aussie Belles (Goalball)

Raissa Martin is preparing to head to her 2nd Paralympic games in Tokyo. As a former track athlete turned Goalball Paralympian. Raissa loves the defensive aspects of Goalball, waiting for the ball and then pouncing. When not on court, Raissa enjoys the outdoor lifestyle, hiking and pursuing her hobby of rock-climbing.

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Brodie Smith - Aussie Belles (Goaball)

One of the Belles’ newest and youngest team members - at 23 years of age, Brodie currently balances her training schedule with a busy study workload at Newcastle University where she is in her final year of her Bachelor of Education, aiming to become a drama and art teacher.

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Tyan Taylor - Aussie Belles (Goalball)

Heading towards her 3rd Paralympic games, Tyan had a dream as a 10 year old to become a Paralympian in Goalball and is passionate about providing opportunities for people of all ages to engage in sport, which she does through her work in schools with NSW Goalball.

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Kirralee Hayes - Para-Swimming

A member of the Para Development Squad, Kirralee Hayes has gone from strength to strength since she began swimming at the age of 11. Rising up through the ranks, Hayes put in strong performances at the Australian Multi-Class Swimming Championships in April on the Gold Coast, and then backed it up at the Australian Swimming Trials in June. You can read more about Kirralee at https://www.paralympic.org.au/athlete/kirralee-hayes/

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Wayne Phipps - Para-Judo

South Africa-born Wayne Phipps has been an active member of the judo community since the age of eight. In his teenage years he won national titles and by his 20’s was competing for South Africa. After being diagnosed with a visual impairment, his coach in Perth suggested he consider competing in Para-Judo. After gaining classification he competed in the World Championships in 2018 and will compete in his first Paralympics in Tokyo in the 66kg division.

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Jonathan Goerlach - Para-Triathlon

Along the way to Tokyo 2020, Jonathan has had some great results, including first placings in World Paratriathlon Series races Devonport, Edmonton and on the Gold Coast. Jonathan literally couldn’t swim the length of a full-sized pool when he started out on his triathlon journey. As a four-year-old he had come close to drowning in a backyard pool and was so traumatised by the event that right throughout his youth he refused to learn to swim and avoided all water sports.

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Jaryd Clifford - Para-Athletics

When Jaryd Clifford made his Paralympic debut as a fresh-faced 17-year-old at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, no one could have predicted that three years later, he would be the man to beat at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. There is no denying that Jaryd raced well in Rio – he placed seventh in the men’s 1500m T13 and men’s 5000m T13, with one of his races attracting worldwide attention for being faster than its Olympic equivalent – but his improvement since then has been astronomical.

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Chad Peris - Para-Athletics

Chad ‘White Tiger’ Perris climbed the medal dais at his first Paralympic Games in 2016, but has plans to scale two steps higher in 2020. The proud Western Australian won a bronze medal in the men’s 100m T13 at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games. It was a moment which Chad describes as the highlight of his career to date, and one which would not have been possible without his legendary coach, Iryna Dvoskina, who he began working with in 2014.

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