The VIS acknowledges and celebrates International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD).
Celebrated on December 3 every year, the United Nations-sanctioned day aims to increase public awareness, understanding and acceptance of people with disability, and celebrate their achievements and contributions.
This year’s theme is amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.
At the VIS, we have a proud history of supporting Para athletes dating back to our first program in 1990. Some of our notable trailblazers include Dylan Alcott OAM (wheelchair basketball and tennis) and Tim Mathews OAM, Don Elgin and Kelly Cartwright OAM (Para-athletics).
VIS athletes proudly made up a quarter of the 160-strong Australian Paralympic Team at the Paris Paralympic Games. It was our highest representation since Athens in 2004, with fifteen VIS athletes contributing to the medal tally.
Our golden performances emerged from two sports: cycling and table tennis. Emily Petricola OAM won Para-cycling gold and along the way claimed a world record in the Individual Pursuit. While Qian Yang OAM won Para-table tennis gold in the WS10 singles and the Doubles, with VIS colleague Lina Lei OAM.
VIS athletes also won medals in Para-athletics, Para-swimming and wheelchair rugby. Para-cyclist Alistair Donohoe, and Lei and Yang all won two medals – the latter was in a class of her own in the French capital.
Australia undoubtedly received a gift in the form of an unstoppable table tennis sensation when Yang emigrated from China after the Rio 2016 Paralympics, arriving Down Under to improve her English and for a life change.
She was born with a limb deficiency and is missing her left arm below the elbow.
Yang won two medals at the Tokyo Paralympics, claimed Australia’s only Para-table tennis gold medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and made a clean sweep across all the international events she competed at in 2023.
The four-time Paralympian was a standout in Paris, winning gold in the Singles Class 10 brushing past Polish legend Natalia Partyka in a lopsided gold medal match that lasted less than half an hour.
Days earlier in the Doubles 20 class, she joined forces with teammate and close friend Lei to beat the Taiwanese top seeds in the gold medal match.
Image: Qian Yang OAM (left) and Lina Lei OAM on the podium in Paris after winning gold in Women's Doubles 20 (WD20).
She has consistently medalled in each of the four Games she has competed in and is currently ranked the world number one in her discipline.
Yang was recently awarded the Para Athlete of the Year Award at the recently held VIS Award of Excellence gala event. She was also a finalist for the coveted Award of Excellence, only to be pipped by Olympic and dual World Champion cyclist, Grace Brown.
Just 28 and at the peak of her powers, Yang is now in search of a new challenge and has revealed she is going to have a crack at trying to make the Australian team for the next Olympics.
Find out more about one of the brightest stars in an Australian table tennis team shining brighter than ever.
CATCH UP ON MORE STORIES OF VIS ATHLETES WITH DISABILITY
THE QUEST FOR PARIS | FEATURING PARALYMPIC SWIMMER, COL PEARSE
A three-part docu-series following Paralympic medallist Col Pearse and his quest to the Paris Paralympics. He learns that a delicate equilibrium is required to prevent high expectations from scuppering his dreams. Watch part one now.
Watch Part Two and Part Three.
THE MOMENT SERIES | FEATURING PARALYMPIC CYCLIST, ALISTAIR DONOHOE
2016 Rio Paralympics. The Men’s C4-5 Road Race. Tough, tactical and unpredictable, the Road Race favours the brave. Alistair Donohoe rode a near perfect race. Until…
READ TO SHOOT | WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL EXPLAINED
Wheelchair basketball (WCBB) is a global sensation, known for its fast-paced action and intense rivalries. We break down what makes the sport unique and the specific skillset our athletes have to excel in this thrilling and dynamic sport.
Learn more about International Day of People with Disability.
