{"id":595704,"date":"2024-08-27T20:03:45","date_gmt":"2024-08-28T03:03:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=595704"},"modified":"2024-08-28T05:09:52","modified_gmt":"2024-08-28T12:09:52","slug":"paralympic-games-australias-world-beating-imer-tim-hodge-aiming-to-make-a-golden-splash-in-paris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/paralympic-games-australias-world-beating-imer-tim-hodge-aiming-to-make-a-golden-splash-in-paris\/","title":{"rendered":"Paralympic Games: Australia\u2019s World-Beating IMer Tim Hodge Aiming for Golden Splash in Paris"},"content":{"rendered":"

Paralympic Games: Australia\u2019s World-Beating IMer Tim Hodge Aiming for Golden Splash in Paris<\/strong><\/p>\n

Australia\u2019s world beating IM star Tim Hodge<\/strong> will begin his jam-packed 2024 Paralympic Games program in Paris on Friday – aiming to add the one thing that has eluded the 23-year-old Sydneysider \u2013 Paralympic gold.<\/p>\n

Hodge is competing in his third Games after making his debut in Rio in 2016, followed by Tokyo 2020 where he claimed his first medals \u2013 silver in the S9 category 200m individual medley and 100m backstroke.<\/p>\n

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CHASING PARALYMPIC GOLD: Tim Hodge off to a flyer at the Australian Championships. Photo Courtesy Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).<\/p><\/div>\n

The multi-talented foot amputee, who lost his right foot at aged four due to a lower limb deficiency, will begin his campaign alongside five-time Olympian, gold medalist and Australian flag bearer Brenden Hall<\/strong> in the 400m freestyle on day one.<\/p>\n

He will also race the 100m breaststroke, 100m backstroke, 200m individual medley and 100m butterfly, as well as the 34 pt Mixed Medley Relay.<\/p>\n

Hodge, coached by Misha Payne<\/strong>\u00a0at the Australian Catholic University, Blacktown (NSW), is a two-time world champion in the 200IM in 2022 and 2023 who has re-written the \u00a0individual medley world record books on three occasions over the last three years.<\/p>\n

A journey aimed solely at turning his Tokyo silver into Paris gold and emulating the feats of his hero, Australia\u2019s greatest ever Paralympic champion \u2013 Matthew Cowdrey<\/strong>\u2013 a 20-time medalist \u2013 13 of them gold and 10 of them in individual events.<\/p>\n

Cowdrey dominated the pool in Athens (2004), Beijing (2008) and London (2012) where he won three consecutive 100m freestyle and 200IM crowns.<\/p>\n

Hodge, from a working-class family in Sydney\u2019s west, would love nothing \u00a0than to reward his family with a golden celebration in Paris \u2013 and he is on track to make that Paralympic dream come true.<\/p>\n

There is also the incentive of cashing in on his success after Paralympics Australia welcomed the Australian Federal Government\u2019s decision to provide financial rewards to Paralympians who win medals at the Paris 2024 Games. Gold medalists will be awarded $20,000: silver medalists $15,000 and bronze medalists $10,000. It brings Paralympians in line with Olympic medalists, whose reward payments are funded by the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).<\/p>\n

“I\u2019m looking forward to Paris and feeling really, really good,\u201d Hodge said from the Australian team camp this week.”I’ve got some high expectations for myself, namely personal bests in most of my races. I’ve worked really hard, improving from Trials, hopefully going\u00a0to do a lot better in the pool and maybe, maybe another world record in the 200 IM (Individual Medley).”<\/p>\n

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Para Legends With Berets And Baguettes Headline 30-strong Australian Swim Team For Paris Paralympic Games<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n