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Photo Credit: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

One of Sydney University’s most experienced athlete, Angela Ballard, pulled off a courageous finish at Carrara Athletics Stadium last night to collect a silver medal in the women’s T54 1500m final.

With compatriot and training partner Madison de Rozario careering away in the final lap to set herself up for the gold medal, Ballard and Canada’s Diane Roy staged a gut-wrenching duel in the home straight with the Australian finishing second in the final push.

De Rozario won in 3:34.06, with Ballard (3:36.85) pipping Roy (3:36.97) by .12sec. It was that close.

Ballard, one of Australia’s most decorated and admired para-athletes, won the T53/54 1500m at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She has succeeded at seven World Para-Championships since 1998, five Paralympic Games and two Commonwealth Games, winning medals of all colours.

The celebrated wheelchair racer was 2017 SUAC Athlete of the Year, alongside Nick Hough. Ballard is generous in giving back to wheelchair sports, serving as an ambassador of a number of organisations. She is also an Elite Athlete Program Alumna with a Bachelor of Science (Psychology), awarded in 2009 and Bachelor of Science (Honours), awarded in 2013, both from Sydney University. 

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