Six-time Paralympian Ryley Batt, who won wheelchair rugby bronze in Paris, backed his fellow athletes into stronger campaigns in Los Angeles and Brisbane, saying that small improvements on Paris – including converting the 45 silver and bronze medals from Paris into gold – would put future Paralympic teams in good stead.
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“On the way to Brisbane, I think we’re going to have an even stronger team, and we’re going to be top five of the tally.”
Batt will take a six-month break from wheelchair rugby, before considering a potential return ahead of 2028.
On Tuesday, the Australian Institute of Sport announced a nationwide talent search ahead of the Brisbane Games.
More than one-third of Australia’s Paris Paralympic team – including Batt – were discovered through a talent search. De Rozario said the talent search would play an “enormous role” in developing the star Paralympic athletes of Brisbane.
“Our gold medallists from Brisbane need to be in LA,” de Rozario said. “We need those programs in place now, if we want those gold medals in Brisbane.”
De Rozario will race in the Sydney marathon this weekend.
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Source Agencies
