Harvey Norman are proud partners of Paralympics Australia, who collaborated and took a step back in time to celebrate the latest Paralympians who shattered world records and achieved defining moments at the Paris Paralympic Games. Each week an athlete’s achievement is told in a series named ‘Harvey Norman Paralympian of the Week – Game Changer and Record Breakers’. Keep an eye on this page for an update of this week’s Paralympian of the Week!
Lauren Parker is a phenomenal athlete with a number of achievements. Lauren was the 2024 Paralympian of the year, three-time medallist at Paris 2024 and by winning her triathlon and cycling road race, the first Australian to win gold in two different sports since 1968. Lauren was selected as the flag bearer for the Closing ceremony and was quoted saying ‘Not many people get this opportunity, so it’s a great honour’. Lauren is living proof that limits are meant to be shattered ‘Whether you’ve got a disability or not, if you really want to do something, anything is possible. If you set those goals, nothing can stop you’.
James Turner has overcome hurdles to break his own world record to win back-to-back gold in the 400m. James had glandular fever in early 2024, with an adjusted training session and incredible determination, he broke his own world record to win his second consecutive gold medal. ‘I had waves of exhaustion where I could barely walk, so to be standing here with a gold and a world record is amazing’. James shows that resilience and determination is key in overcoming adversity. ‘It’s a lot of hard work – but do the hard work and have belief in the process and that gets you across the line’.
Vanessa Low is the current world record holder and gold medallist in long jump, securing her third consecutive long jump gold at Paris 2024! ‘We’ve done so much hard work, not leaving a single stone unturned in the last two years.’ Vanessa is not only an amazing athlete but also a mother. ‘I didn’t have to come back (to athletics) despite having a baby – Matteo has changed me, making me stronger both physically and mentally’. Vanessa continues to raise the bar on the world stage and proves that hard work and belief make all the difference ‘What keeps driving me is trying to be the best I can be. I love pushing myself on the big stage… I want to break barriers’.
Alexa Leary is an inspirational woman who has made the absolute best out of an awful situation. Just three years after a near-fatal cycling accident, Alexa swam the fastest ever S9 100m Freestyle to win gold, breaking the world record she set in her heat just hours earlier. ‘I really just wanted to break the world record – and I did. I did it this morning but tonight was my show’ ‘(I thought) come on, Lex, Let’s get it. Let’s be so determined and passionate about what you want. Go out and get it and I did it.’ From fighting for her life to inspiring the world, Alexa has show us all what true resilience looks like. ‘I’ve come so far in my life, from being told three years ago I wouldn’t live… I’m walking and talking when we were told I would never.
After leaving Paris, Tim Hodge is a 200m individual medley gold medallist that is also now the holder of a new Paralympic Record. After placing fifth in Rio 206 and winning Silver in Tokyo 2020, Tim finally struck gold in Paris and with a new Paralympic Record to top it all off. ‘This has been so long in the making. My coach and I have worked so, so hard at this’. After 8 years of hard work, Tim was finally able to reach his goal. ‘ I was confident in myself and my race plans that I would be able to execute and get the race I wanted.’
