Australia's Paralympian of the Year: Jacqueline Freney. Photo: Getty Images
AUSTRALIA'S Paralympian of the year Jacqueline Freney has encouraged parents of children with ''special needs'' to use sport to nurture their development.
Freney is a living example of that philosophy and her love of swimming took her to eight gold medals at the London Paralympics, the standout performance of the Games.
Freney won all of her events in London and produced one of the most talk-about performances of the Games when she closed a half-lap deficit in the 4 x 100-metre medley relay to snatch gold in a blanket four-way finish.
''I truly hope that from my achievements that I have also inspired the next generation to follow their dreams and taught them that through hard work, passion and dedication for their sport it is possible to achieve their dreams despite any limitations or barriers that may be placed upon them,'' Freney said.
''I have one message for all parents and carers of children with special needs: please involve them in a sporting activity. Sport has provided me with unlimited opportunities for personal development. Opportunities that would not have been available to me if I was not a kid with special needs. Sport can do the same for your child.''
Freney was chosen over Matthew Cowdrey (swimming), closing ceremony flag-bearer Evan O'Hanlon (athletics), Kelly Cartwright (athletics), Felicity Johnson (cycling) and Ryley Batt (wheelchair rugby).
''Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought I would achieve eight gold medals. Even to this day it is so unreal to me that I still have trouble coming to terms with it all,'' Freney said.
Australia's chef de mission in London Jason Hellwig said he believed it was not beyond the 20-year-old to repeat her outstanding feat in Rio in 2016.
''They're pretty rare. You'd love to see that kind of performance replicated in the future but the reality is it's very difficult to win eight gold medals,'' Hellwig said. ''If she continues to work hard then in four years time, who knows? You wouldn't say no.''
The Australian wheelchair rugby team, which Batt led to its first gold medal, and sailing pair Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch, who won the gold in the two-person keel boat [SKUD 18], were named teams of the year.
Sprint champion O'Hanlon, who ran world records to win the 100 and 200 metres, was named male athlete of the year while Peter Day was coach of the year after his cycling team won six gold, four silver and four bronze medals.
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