Jake
Michel

Jake Michel, no relation to Australian boccia star Dan Michel, shares his compatriot’s passion for competition and ability to convert hard work into podium success.

A breaststroke specialist, Jake first began competing in Para-swimming in 2014, but it was only after being named to the Dolphins’ development squad in 2018 that Australians realised what they had on their hands – a future Paralympic champion.

At the 2018 Pan Pacific Para-swimming Championships in Cairns, QLD, Jake blitzed the field in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB4-9/11-13 heats. However, as a member of the development squad and not the Australian team, he missed the final – and the opportunity to win his first medal at an international meet.

But not for long. After being internationally classified at the 2019 World Para-swimming World Series, Jake won two gold medals over 50m and 100m, finishing 144 points ahead of teammate Ahmed Kelly in the 50m event, and 47 points ahead of two-time Paralympian Evan Austin (USA) in the 100m.

These results all but secured Jake’s place at the 2019 World Para-swimming Championships, where he just missed the podium with fourth place – and a new Oceanian record – in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB14.

At his first Paralympic Games at Tokyo 2020, 23-year-old produced a new personal best and broke the Australian record for the men’s 100m breaststroke SB14 to place second and capture his first medal.

In a thrilling race, Michel and Japan’s Naohide Yamaguchi pulled away from the pack after the first 50 metres and went stroke for stroke in lanes four and five, attacking the last 25 as they came into the wall. Michel put plenty of pressure on the 2019 World Para champ, but the talented local edged ahead to touch first in a world record time of 1:03.77, to Michel’s 1:04.28.