Most Australians can remember where they were the moment that Cathy Freeman won gold in the 400m final at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. During the London 2012 Olympics, this fact sheet celebrates some of the other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Olympians and Paralympians who have contributed to Australia’s success.

Patrick Mills will be a key player to watch in the Australian Basketball team for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

He was the top scorer for the Boomers at the 2008 Games in Beijing, and after spending the last two years playing in the National Basketball Association (NBA) in America, he may be able to lead the team to its first Olympic medal.

When he was in grade 10, Patrick was selected to go to the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and, only a year later, at age 17, he became the youngest ever member of the Australian national basketball team in July 2007.

When Patrick’s uncle Danny Morseau, a Torres Strait Islander man, represented Australia as an Olympian, the Torres Strait Islander flag did not exist. Three decades later Patrick will be flying the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander as well as the Australian flags. Read more...

• From 1870 to 1912 Aboriginal sprinters dominated professional athletics. For many it provided an escape from the controls placed on their lives under the Protection System.
• Kevin Coombs was the first Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Paralympian.
• The first known Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Olympians were Adrian Blair, Frank Roberts and Michael Ah Matt who competed at the 1964 Olympics in Tokyo.
• Nova Peris was the first Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander athlete to win an Olympic gold medal when she was part of the Australian women’s hockey team at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

 

In 2012 there will be 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes representing Australia at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.  They are:

Cameron Hammond - Boxing
Damien Hooper - Boxing
Jesse Ross - Boxing
Joel Carroll - Hockey
Ben Harradine - Discus
Josh Ross - Men’s 4x100m relay
Beki Lee - Athletics
Patrick Mills - Basketball
Khalen Young - Cycling BMX
Amanda Fowler - Paralympic swimming
Torita Isaac – Paralympic athletics

 

1) Send a hero message to one of the 11 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes competing at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

2) Vote for an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Olympian or Paralympian as sportsperson of the year in the 2012 Deadly Awards.

3) Volunteer as a Role Model or donate to the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy.

4) Read ‘Black Diamonds: The Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame’ written by Colin and Paul Tatz.

Reconciliation Australia is the national body promoting reconciliation between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. www.reconciliation.org.au

Note: All of the information contained in this fact sheet is based on current records kept by the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Paralympic Committee. There may be other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander athletes not known to the Commission or the Committee. Reconciliation Australia would like to thank the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Paralympic Committee for their assistance in developing this fact sheet.  Nova Peris and Cathy Freeman images courtesy Newspix.  Patrick Mills photo supplied by the Australian Sports Commission.