Raised in the United Kingdom, four-time Paralympian Colin Harrison was introduced to sailing as a teenager at a youth holiday camp in Northern Wales. Joining the Thames Estuary Yacht Club in Essex, England on his return, Colin began racing small boats.
A cancer diagnosis several years later resulted in the amputation of his right arm, and after taking a short break from sailing to adjust, Colin made his international debut at the 2002 IFDS World Disabled Sailing Championships in Medemblik, the Netherlands. Together with Paralympic champions Noel Robins and Jamie Dunross, he finished 16th from a fleet of 21.
At the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens, Colin, Jamie and Jeff Milligan combined to place fifth in the mixed 3-person keelboat, and in the four years between Athens and Beijing, Colin improved significantly to win his first ever Paralympic medal, a bronze, with teammates Russell Boaden and Graeme Martin.
Despite recording encouraging results with sailors Stephen Churm and Jonathan Harris in the lead-up to the London Games, including a fourth place finish at the 2012 IFDS World Disabled Sailing Championships in Florida, the United States, Colin was unable to medal at his third Paralympic Games, placing sixth with a score of 47.0.
Combining with former teammates Russell and Jonathan, Colin won two bronze medals and a silver at the 2013, 2014 and 2015 IFDS World Disabled Sailing Championships,
Dominant throughout his Rio 2016 Games campaign, he placed first in three races and second in four to win his first ever Paralympic gold medal and be named a part of Paralympics Australia’s Team of the Year.
Outside of training and competition, he maintains a career in medical imaging, and in his spare time enjoys playing squash, listening to music and watching movies.
Show less
Join AUS Squad
