Richard Colman

Richard Colman has always aspired to do his best. As it happens, his best is world-beating, with the track specialist having spearheaded the Australian Para-athletics team for over a decade.

Making his Paralympic debut for Australia in 2004, Richard first put the world on notice when he won gold in the men’s 800m T53. Finishing just 0.03 seconds ahead of silver medallist Adam Bleakney (USA), Richard showed that he had what it takes to hold his own in the high-pressure environment of a Paralympic Games.

Also in 2004, Richard won a Paralympic silver medal in the men’s 4x100m T53-54 with Kurt Fearnley, Richard Nicholson and Geoff Trappett. It was an incredible display of what is possible when four of the best wheelchair racers in the world come together to compete for their country, and a prime opportunity for Richard to learn from his more experienced teammates.

Richard returned to the Paralympic spotlight for the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games, where he contested five events and won medals in two. Although his medals – a silver in the men’s 200m T53 and a bronze in the men’s 400m T53 – did not top the gold he won four years earlier, the opportunity to compete in front of the Bird’s Nest’s thousands-strong crowds remains one of the highlights of his career.

Rediscovering his career-best form with a World Championships gold and silver medal in 2011, Richard won his second Paralympic title over 800m and bronze medals in the men’s 400m T53 and men’s 4x400m T53/54 at the London 2012 Paralympic Games. He contested two events at his fourth Paralympics in 2016, and after missing both finals, took a short break from competition to focus on coaching the next generation of Paralympic champions. He is now back and ready to compete for a place on the 2020 Australian Paralympic Team.