By Nicholas Creely
Dandenong athlete and Paralympic champion Jayden Warn has narrowly missed out on claiming an award, with the Australian Paralympic Awards held on Thursday 8 December in Sydney.
The 22-year-old had been named as a finalist alongside the Australian Wheelchair rugby team for the award Team of the Year – with the sailing team claiming the prestigious award.
But regardless of the awards, Warn has been integral in Paralympic sport in the country, helping the Steelers to victory at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games after they defeated Great Britain, Brazil, Canada and Japan to play their rivals, the United States in the gold medal match.
In this particular game, no side gained ascendency throughout, and eventually the fourth period buzzer sounded with both teams tied on 49 points.
But the Aussie spirit prevailed, ultimately edging out the US 59-58 in a double-overtime thriller and, as a result, became the first team in history to win consecutive Paralympic gold medals and a world championship in the space of just four years.
Warn was particular influential throughout in what was a highly impressive campaign from him.
Chef de Mission of the 2016 Australian Paralympic Team Kate McLoughlin said that Warn, along with his other teammates, should be proud of their achievements throughout 2016.
“Wheelchair rugby is one of the most exciting sports to watch at the Paralympic Games, and to see Australia win after such a suspenseful match was one of the highlights of the entire Games.
“The Steelers did an amazing job defeating their rivals and the fact that they were able to defend their Paralympic title from London makes the victory so much sweeter.”
In some other major awards for the night, Dylan Alcott backed up his Rio gold-medal double by claiming two awards at the ceremony.
Alcott was crowned as the Australian Paralympian and Male Paralympian of the Year in Sydney, and comes just a month after claiming Australian tennis’ highest honour, the Newcombe Medal.
Runner James Turner claimed Paralympic Rookie of the Year after his record breaking 800 metre performance.
