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Seven-time Paralympian and winner of five medals across two sports, Liesl Tesch AM, has been named one of eight inductees to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame for 2024.
Tesch described herself as “just a person having a crack at life” upon being informed of the honour, which brings to 10 the number of Paralympians invited to join the Hall of Fame’s exclusive athlete membership.
“It’s something that I would never have expected because this is a space of people who are our national heroes and role models, and I don’t reflect on myself as that at all,” Tesch said.
“I’m just a person going about my life doing the best I can. It’s like I’m going to a place outside of my league. So it’s an amazing honour and something that makes me reflect on my life and my contribution, possibly with tears in my eyes, because it’s not where I see myself.
“I’m just a person having a crack at life and having a really good time along the way. I’m still shaking my head. Like, ‘little old me’.”
Tesch’s humility, positivity and powerful advocacy for people with a disability earned her deep respect among Australia’s Para-sport fraternity. She was a giant in the sporting arena and represented the Gliders Australian wheelchair basketball team at five Paralympics between 1992 and 2008, winning silver at Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004, and bronze at Beijing 2008 where she was the team’s captain.
After competing in the 2009 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race aboard Sailors with Disabilities, Tesch formed a formidable partnership with sailor Daniel Fitzgibbon, who had won a silver medal at Beijing in the mixed two person SKUD 18 class. Together, they won back-to-back gold medals in the SKUD 18 at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Paralympics.
The following year, Tesch, a schoolteacher by trade, successfully contested the Gosford state by-election and has since been appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Disability Inclusion and Families and Communities in the NSW state government.
Paralympics Australia President Alison Creagh AM CSC said Sport Australia Hall of Fame membership was fitting recognition for one of the nation’s most exceptional Paralympians.
“On behalf of Paralympics Australia, congratulations to Liesl Tesch upon becoming just the 10th Paralympic athlete to join the Sport Australia Hall of Fame,” Ms Creagh said.
“Liesl has never been one to seek accolades, but her contribution to Australian sport as an athlete, role model and mentor merits the highest praise.
“Thank you to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, particularly Chair John Bertrand AO, Selection Committee Chair Bruce McAvaney OAM and CEO Adrianne Sarkozy, for elevating Ms Tesch to her deserved place among the very best Australian athletes.”
The Hall of Fame includes Sir Donald Bradman AC, Dawn Fraser AC MBE, Cathy Freeman OAM, Ian Thorpe AM, E.J. “Ted” Whitten OAM, Raelene Boyle AM MBE, Wally Lewis AM, Shane Gould OAM MBE, Sir Jack Brabham AO OBE, Greg Norman AO, Lauren Jackson AO, John Eales AM, Susie O’Neill AM, Rod Laver AC MBE, Bart Cummings AM, Louise Sauvage OAM, Layne Beachley AO and Tim Cahill AO, among others.
This year’s Inductees, alongside Tesch, are surfing champion Mick Fanning AO; former hockey captain Mark Knowles OAM; lawn bowls trailblazer Karen Murphy AM; Olympic hurdles gold medallist Sally Pearson OAM; and motor sport star Mark Skaife OAM.
The nine Paralympians who are members of the Hall of Fame are Priya Cooper OAM, Matthew Cowdrey OAM, Kurt Fearnley AO, David Hall OAM, Libby Kosmala OAM, Michael Milton OAM, Frank Ponta, Troy Sachs OAM and Louise Sauvage OAM.
The 2024 Inductees will be honoured at the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Gala Dinner in Melbourne on November 18.
By: David Sygall, Paralympics Australia
Published: 25 October 2024
