Paralympian Michael Milton. Photo: NPG
THIS Thursday in Melbourne Canberra’s remarkable paralympic athlete Michael Milton will join the greats of Australian sport in the Hall of Fame.
Milton competed in five Winter Paralympic Games between 1988, when he debuted in his first international competition at just 14 years, and 2006 – collecting six gold, three silver and two bronze medals. In world championship competition he won eleven medals, six of them gold.
In 2006 he set a speed skiing record of 213.65 kilometres per hour – faster than any able bodied skier had achieved in Australia. At the 25th anniversary of the Australian Institute of Sport that year he was acknowledged as one of its 25 greatest graduates. Few would argue and few could challenge his breadth of achievement.
He then discarded his winter woollies and despite less than 12 months before having undergone extensive surgery, chemo and radio therapy for a new cancer, competed in the Summer Paralympic Games as a cyclist.
The honour of joining fellow Paralympic greats Louise Sauvage and David Hall in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame is not lost on Milton.
“It makes me feel very proud to be inducted and to be joining such elite company,” Michael said.
The Sport Australia Hall of Fame Selection Committee is clearly of the view that Milton remains a role model for all Australians.
“Michael Milton not only defies limits, he destroys them! All champions rise to a challenge, but Michael takes this to a new level, and through his incredible achievements he inspires us all to never give up, no matter how tough things look,” Committee chair Robert de Castella said.
382 sporting stars have previously been inducted as Athlete Members of The Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Along with 143 General Members, there are a total of 525 members of The Sport Australia Hall of Fame. The full list is online.
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