Category: Athletes
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Australian First Female Paralympic Marathon Gold Medallist: Jan Randles Journey
By Jan Randles I was born on the 23rd of August 1945 in Melbourne, Australia. In 1974, while enjoying a very successful career as an Advertising Art Director both in Melbourne and overseas, I went to Bali on a holiday, where I fell off a motor bike down a cliff and broke my back. Looking…
australiansportreflections
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Importance of the Paralympic Games: Highlighting the Journeys of Athletes with a Disability
By Greg Blood During the next two weeks we will hear or read about the journeys of many Paralympic athletes. These journeys about striving for excellence in their sport and overcoming challenges along the way. I worked at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) for nearly thirty years and during this period, I realised that…
australiansportreflections
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Australian Government’s Contribution to Australian Olympic and Paralympic Teams at Tokyo 2021 through the AIS
By Greg Blood With the upcoming Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, it is worthwhile examining the contribution of the Australian Government through the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) to Australian Olympic and Paralympic team preparation from 2016 to 2021. These teams have also been supported by Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, state institute/academies of sport, national…
australiansportreflections
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Further reflections on the Australian Institute of Sport – a national ‘living’ icon.
By Ron Harvey CVO AM – 3rd Director of the AIS (1987-1989) My recent article AIS – a national living icon and recent reflections by early AIS staff and athletes made me look back to Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser’s comments when he opened the AIS in 1981- “Coaches and athletes working together through this institute,…
australiansportreflections
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AIS support of regional athletes 1981 to 2013
By Greg Blood The establishment of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in 1981 has greatly assisted in regional athletes being significant contributors to the success of Australia in international sporting arena. In recent years, on a voluntary basis, I have created alumni websites for six AIS inaugural sports – athletics, basketball, men’s football, netball, gymnastics and…
australiansportreflections
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My 50 ‘Best of the Best’ Australian Institute of Sport Scholarship Athletes
Celebrating the 40th AIS Anniversary by Greg Blood The Australian Institute of Sport celebrates its 40th anniversary on 26 January 2021. It was opened by Prime Minister Malcom Fraser by unveiling John Robinson’s ‘Acrobats’ statue. The establishment of the AIS has been one of the most significant developments in Australian sport – taking Australia from…
australiansportreflections
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Australian Institute of Sport – a national ‘living’ icon
Reflections by Ron Harvey CVO AM – 3rd Director of the AIS (1987-1989) With the passing of Don Talbot this year, I am the oldest living AIS Director and I thought it worthwhile to reflect on the AIS with its 40th anniversary on Australia Day. For over 40 years, I held senior Federal Government positions…
australiansportreflections
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Australian Sports Deaths 2020
by Greg Blood 2020 has seen the passing of many notable Australian athletes, coaches and administrators. Below is a list of Australians that have made a significant contribution to Australian and international sport. For a more comprehensive list visit Wikipedia’s Deaths of 2020. The deaths of Don Talbot and Peter Bowman greatly saddened me as…
australiansportreflections
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Australian Institute of Sport alumni inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame – Who be in a list of Best 40 Athletes 1981-2013 ?
by Greg Blood Many Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) alumni have been inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame since 2000. To celebrate the AIS 40th anniversary on 26 January 2021, I am aiming to compile a list of the Best 40 AIS athletes to celebrate this important occasion. Recently the Sport Australia Hall…
australiansportreflections
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What is the future of ‘Sport 2030’ in the post COVID19 world?
By Greg Blood In May 2018, I published the article How long can the proposed National Sports Plan survive? It is worthwhile to revisit Sport 2030 , known as the National Sports Plan, due to changes in Australian sport leadership, undetermined Australian Government decisions and significant impact of COVID-19 on sport as well as other parts…
australiansportreflections