Australia\u2019s top Para-swimmers are set to write a new chapter in the Nation\u2019s decorated sporting history at the Tokyo Paralympics with a 32-strong Team confirmed in Adelaide tonight.<\/p>\n
The announcement made by Australian Team Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin <\/strong>came after five hard fought days of competition wound up at the Australian Trials at the SA Aquatic And Leisure Centre.<\/p>\n Fifteen debutants were named along with some of Australia\u2019s most decorated Paralympic swimmers, led by North Sydney\u2019s Levy,<\/strong> who at 34, is the most senior member of the team.<\/p>\n The seven-time medallist will prepare to compete at his fifth Paralympics, having started his Paralympic journey in Athens in 2004.<\/p>\n Joining Levy will be six-time gold medallist and winner of 15 Paralympic medals Ellie Cole,<\/strong> who becomes a four-time Paralympian.<\/p>\n Brenden Hall,<\/strong> who has won six Para-swimming medals including three gold, will be lining up for a third Games.<\/p>\n Joining the who\u2019s who will be Lakeisha Patterson,<\/strong> winner of six medals at the Rio 2016 Paralympics including two gold, and Tiffany Thomas Kane,<\/strong> who won four medals in Rio including one gold and defending S4 50m freestyle gold medallist Rachael Watson.<\/strong><\/p>\n The youngest member of the Team is 15-year-old Norwood schoolgirl Isabella Vincent,<\/strong> who qualified in front of her home crowd in Adelaide.<\/p>\n Queensland lead the State count on 16, followed by NSW (8), Victoria (5), SA (2) and WA (1).<\/p>\n McLoughlin <\/strong>said: \u201cWhat we know from previous Games is that swimming often sets the barometer for other sports in which we compete.<\/p>\n \u201cIn Rio, our 36 swimmers brought home 29 medals, including nine gold, an inspiring outcome that formed the foundation of Australia\u2019s top-five finish at the Games.<\/p>\n \u201cThis particular group has faced a lot of adversity in the past year or so. Yet, through their resilience and desire, and with exemplary support from Swimming Australia, they will head to Japan as ready as they could possibly be to compete at their best.\u201d<\/p>\n Paralympics Australia\u00a0Chief Executive Lynne Anderson<\/strong> said: \u201cAny conversation about Australia\u2019s incredibly proud history at the Paralympic Games will always include swimming.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of our truly national sports and one in which generations of our Para-athletes have genuinely excelled.<\/p>\n \u201cSince the first Paralympics, in Rome in 1960, Australian swimmers have won 420 medals, including 128 gold, 150 silver and 142 bronze. We sit fifth on the all-time gold medal tally in Para-swimming and third in total medals won, behind only Great Britain and the United States.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a remarkable record and when I look at the calibre of the swimmers we\u2019ll have representing us in Tokyo, I have no doubt we\u2019ll see a strong, cohesive and dedicated group of athletes giving everything they\u2019ve got to make the nation proud, just as their predecessors did.\u201d<\/p>\n And before the team was announced rookie Paralympian Benjamin Hance<\/strong> continued on his world record breaking spree as he eyed gold in Tokyo. Watch the world record and commentary by Jon Harker and Paralympian Anabelle Williams.<\/p>\n