Todd
Hodgetts

Todd Hodgetts is the gentle giant of the Australian Paralympic athletics squad – that is, until he moves into the shot put circle. When he does, he well and truly lives up to his nickname ‘The Hulk’.

‘The Hulk’ first began competing in Para-athletics in 1998 when his brother brought home a shot put from school, and after watching the Paralympic Games in Sydney two years later, he was motivated to represent Australia at the highest level.

But when athletes with an intellectual impairment were excluded from competition after 2000, Todd turned his attention to weightlifting. Inspired by Olympic gold medallist Dean Lukin, Todd set new Australian junior dead lift and Tasmanian super heavyweight records.

But cometh the hour, cometh the man. The London 2012 Paralympic Games saw the reinclusion of three sports for athletes with an intellectual impairment, and Todd knew that it was his chance to show the world exactly what he could do. In front of 80,000 people, he won the Paralympic medal he had dreamed about since he was a boy – gold in the men’s shot put F20 – and with a new world record too.

At his second Paralympic Games, Todd won a bronze medal in an exciting final, but immediately vowed to reclaim his throne at the next Games.

Unfortunately, his campaign at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games did not go as planned. Todd placed seventh with a top throw of 15.48m, however he was deemed as DNS (did not start) due to arriving late to the call room prior to his event.

Todd always makes sure he wears the Australian green and gold with pride. He is inspired by wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley, who once told him that every time you represent your country is a moment that money can’t buy.