Sydney University Athletics Club legend Angela Ballard has been given the honour of being named co-captain of the Australian Paralympic team at the 2024 Paris Games.
Ballard and Paralympic canoeing gold medalist Curtis McGrath were told of their co-captaincy roles yesterday by Danni Di Toro and Ryley Batt, who led the Australian Paralympic team through the 2020 Tokyo Games.
One of Australia’s most decorated and admired para-athletes, Ballard will be attending a record seventh Paralympic Games in Paris in September. She will also travel to Paris in July next year to compete at her ninth consecutive World Para Athletics Championships.
Ballard has also competed at four Commonwealth Games and won the T53/54 1500m at the 2014 Games in Glasgow. She has competed in wheelchair events from 100m through to 1500m and won medals of all colours internationally.
Ballard was the 2017 SUAC Athlete of the Year, alongside Nick Hough. She’s generous in giving back to wheelchair sports, serving as an ambassador of several organisations.
She is also a Sydney University Sport and Fitness Elite Athlete Program Alumna with a Bachelor of Science (Psychology), awarded in 2009, and a Bachelor of Science (Honours), awarded in 2013, both from the University of Sydney.
Ballard said she would draw on her experience over 25 years as an elite-level wheelchair racer when she captains the team in Paris.
“Leadership is looking after that 16-year-old who started a long time ago,” she told Paralympics Australia’s David Sygall, reflecting on her debut representing Australia at the 1998 World Para-athletics Championships.
“It’s not always easy to speak up and the Paralympics has been a big part of me finding a voice, so I feel obligated, in a good way, to speak up whenever I can.”
From everyone here at Sydney University,we wish Angela all the best for the year ahead.
