Harrison Earns Paralympic Selection
WAIS athlete Colin Harrison was this week named in the 2012 Australian Paralympic Team after the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) officially announced the Sailing team that will head to London.
The Victoria Park sailor is the second Western Australian athlete to be named on the 2012 Team and joins New South Wales crewmates Jonathan Harris and Stephen Churm in the Australian Sonar three person boat set to take on the world in London this August.
It will be the third Paralympic Games for the 51-year-old, who will be the most experienced Paralympian on the Australian sailing team.
Having made his Paralympic debut at Athens in 2004 where his crew finished fifth, it wasn’t until the 2008 Beijing Paralympics when Harrison won the bronze medal with then crew members Graeme Martin and Russell Boaden.
Now in one of the newest combinations in world sailing, Harrison, who had his right arm amputated after cancer was diagnosed in his shoulder, only joined with Jonathan Harris and Stephen Churm late last year.
At their first ever event together, the trio finished fourth at the 2012 IFDS Sailing World Championships, only one point off a podium finish and have hopes of medalling in London.
Australia has won three medals in sailing at the Paralympic Games – one gold, one silver and one bronze, since it was introduced as a Paralympic sport in 2000. Australian Paralympic Committee CEO and 2012 Team Chef de Mission Jason Hellwig hopes the Sonar crew can turn bronze in Beijing into silver or gold in London.
“I would like to congratulate Colin on making his third Australian Paralympic Team. Representing your country at the highest level on the world stage is a rare and wonderful achievement and to do it three times is something few achieve in their sporting careers,” Mr Hellwig said.
“Colin is one of Australia’s leading sailors with a disability and I’m sure he will do his country proud in London.”
Australian Sonar team coach Grant Alderson believes the crew is capable of something special in London.
“They are all very good and talented sailors in their own right and through just a short time together are building as a very good team,” Alderson said.
“Colin is a very dedicated and enthusiastic athlete who does everything he needs to campaign as best he can. Having gone to two Games he’s great for the other guys and is a great leader in the team.”
The London 2012 Paralympic Games begin 29 August through to 9 September, 2012.
-APC