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The Australian Paralympic Committee is in mourning following the tragic passing of five-time Paralympic shooter Ashley Adams.
The 59-year-old from Queensland lost his life on Tuesday in a motorcycle accident.
APC President Glenn Tasker said Australian Paralympic sport had not only lost one of its best athletes, but one of its great characters.
“We are absolutely devastated. Our deepest condolences are with Ashley’s family and friends, as well as the many people within the shooting community who were touched by Ashley’s talent, warmth, wit and humour,” Mr Tasker said.
“As a Paralympic shooter, Ashley was one of our finest ever. In fact, it is hard to imagine an Australian Paralympic shooting team without him, such is the impact he has had on our team and the sport over a long period of time.”
Adams competed at five consecutive Paralympic Games from 1996 and 2012, with his best performances coming at the Athens 2004 Games. There, he won two medals – a silver in the SH1 Free Rifle Prone event and a bronze in the SH1 Air Rifle standing event.
He was also a former World Champion, winning gold in the 50m Rifle Prone event at the 1998 IPC World Championships in Santander, Spain.
At the London Paralympic Games in 2012, he achieved a top 20 finish in all four of his events and he finished the last calendar year ranked in the world’s top 10 in three events.
He also achieved success in able-bodied competition. Among his major achievements were his national prone championships victory in 2007 and his representation of Australia at ISSF World Cup events overseas.
In addition to his shooting career, Adams was a passionate farmer who owned cattle studs in country Queensland and became well-known in the beef community as an industry leader in genetic cattle breeding through his trademark TendaBeef product.
“Ashley will be sadly missed by everyone in the Paralympic movement who knew him, particularly his shooting team-mates,” Mr Tasker said.
“He will long be remembered for his laconic approach to life, typical of the likable country bloke from rural Queensland who always embraced the challenges ahead of him and worked hard to succeed.”
By APC Media
Posted: 18/3/2015
