PHILLIPA GRAY
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Name:
Phillipa Gray
Age: 22
Sport: Cycling
Coach: Brendon Cameron
Disability: Visually Impaired - Ushers Syndrome II
Classification: B/VI
Residence: Invercargill
Background before X2X:
Student who was a competitive rower and had previously competed in athletics and
swimming at blind sport events.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
With pilot, Laura Thompson, placed 4th at the 2011 Para-Cycling Road World
Championships and 5th at the 2011 Para-Cycling Track World
Championships. Won a gold and bronze medal at the 2011 Oceania Para-Cycling Road Championships and placed 4th at the 2011
Para-Cycling Road World
Cup.
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DANNY MCBRIDE
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Name:
Danny McBride
Age: 42
Sport: Rowing
Coach: Dave Lazarus and Norm Charlton
Disability: T12/L1 Paraplegic
Classification: ASMx1
Residence: Tirau (South Waikato)
Background before X2X:
Father of two, who was a New Zealand representative wheelchair basketball player
between 2002 - 2006 and a competitive wheelchair tennis player.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Won a bronze medal at the 2010 World Rowing Championships in the 1000m single
skulls (his first international regatta). Although ill and injured through much
of 2011, was able to place 8th at the 2011 World Rowing Championships and
qualify a boat for the London 2012 Paralympic Games. Continues to train hard
with a goal of regaining a spot in the New Zealand Rowing Team and selection for
London 2012.
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BRYALL MCPHERSON
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Name:
Bryall McPherson
Age: 22
Sport: Swimming
Coach: Glenn Hamblyn
Disability: Single Above Elbow Amputee
Classification: S8, SB8, SM8
Residence: Auckland
Background before X2X:
Student who was a competitive tennis player on a scholarship to train in the
United States.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Competed for New Zealand at the 2011 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships winning
bronze in the 100m butterfly. Competed at the New Zealand Nationals and
Australian State Championships.
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NATHAN SMITH
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Name:
Nathan Smith
Age: 34
Sport: Cycling
Coach: Simon Finnel
Disability: Single Above Knee Amputee
Classification: C3
Residence: New Plymouth
Background before X2X:
Full time pharmacist who competed in rugby, cricket, cycling, touch rugby and
golf.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Placed 4th at the 2011 Para-Cycling Track World
Championships and 5th at the 2011 Para-Cycling Road World Championships. Won two
gold medals at the 2011 Oceania Para-Cycling Road Championships.
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AINE KELLY-COSTELLO
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Name:
Aine Kelly-Costello
Age:
16
Sport:
Swimming
Coach: Gary Francis
Disability: Blind
Classification: S11, SB11, SM11
Residence: Auckland
Background before X2X:
A student and musician who swum two times per week for fun.
"Xccelerate 2
Xcellence gave me the chance to take my sport to the next level".
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Competed for New Zealand at the 2011 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships winning
one gold and three silver medals. Ranked in the top 6 for her classification in 400 freestyle and 100 backstroke
and holder of Oceania Records for the 50m freestyle and 100m backstroke.
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MATTHEW LACK
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Name: Matthew
Lack
Age: 20
Sport: Athletics
Coach: Blanche Herbert
Disability: Spina Bifida
Classification: T54
Residence: Opotiki
Background before X2X:
Played wheelchair basketball and attended CCS and Eve Rimmer Games since the age
of 8 years old, participating in swimming, shot put, discus and javelin.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Represented New Zealand at the 2010 Commonwealth Games, placing 4th in the
1500m. Represent New Zealand at the IPC Athletics World Championships in 2011 in
the 400m, 800m and 1500m ,800m and 400m (best placing 8th in the 800m).
Placed 3rd in the Open men's 2012 OZ Day 10k Road Race in Sydney.
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NIKITA HOWARTH
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Name:
Nikita Howarth
Age:
13
Sport:
Swimming
Coach: Narcis Gherca
Disability: Bilateral Upper Limb Deficiency
Classification: S7, SB8, SM7
Residence: Cambridge
Background before X2X:
Student who was involved in soccer, dancing and swimming.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Represented New Zealand at the 2011 Pan Pacific Swimming Championships, winning
two medals; silver in the 50m butterfly and bronze in the 100m breaststroke.
Competed at the 2011 Oceania Paralympic Championships.
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HOLLY ROBINSON
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Name:
Holly Robinson
Age: 17
Sport: Athletics
Coach: Raylene Bates
Disability: Missing Arm Below Elbow
Classification: F46, T46
Residence: Dunedin
Background before X2X:
Student at Westland High School (Hokitika) who competed in netball, basketball
and athletics.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Placed 5th at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships. Won a silver and a
bronze medal at the 2011 Australian Athletics Championships.
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ROB MATTHEWS
www.robmatthewsmbe.com
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Name: Rob
Matthews
Age: 50
Sport: Cycling
Coach: Jono Hailstone
Disability: Blind
Classification: B/VI
Residence: Auckland
Background before X2X:
Competed for Great Britain at seven Paralympic Games in athletics between
1980 - 2004 , winning 13
medals (8 gold) and setting 22 world records.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
With pilot, Justin Kerr, has competed for New Zealand at two World Championships
in Canada and Denmark. Has competed in time trial and road race events at two
World Cups in Australia and Canada, and the 2011 Oceania Championships in
Australia winning two bronze medals.
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MARK WILSON
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Name: Mark
Wilson
Age: 16
Sport: Table Tennis
Coach: John Tuki
Disability: Cerebral Palsy
Classification: Class 6
Residence: Tauranga
Background before X2X:
Student who competed in athletics, handcycling and go-karting.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Represented New Zealand at the 2011 Oceania Paralympic Championships, competing
in the singles and doubles competition.
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RORY MCSWEENEY
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Name:
Rory McSweeney
Age: 26
Sport: Athletics
Coach: Raylene Bates
Disability: Single Below Knee Amputee
Classification: F44, T44
Residence: Dunedin
Background before X2X:
Reiki practicer who was involved in a range of sports at a social and
semi-competitive level.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Placed 8th at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships. Won a gold medal at the 2011 Oceania Paralympic Championships.
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GRANT SHARMAN
www.mollybean.co.nz
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Name:
Grant Sharman
Age:
50
Sport: Shooting
Disability: C5/6 Tetraplegic
Classification: SH2
Residence: Auckland
Background before X2X:
Paralympian and captain of the New Zealand wheelchair rugby team that won bronze
at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games, bronze at 1995 World
Championships and silver at 1998 World Championships.
Coached the Wheel Blacks to win
gold at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games and silver at the 2006 World
Championships.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Represented New Zealand at the 2011 IPC Shooting World Cup in Sydney, Australia.
Competed internationally at events in Spain, Turkey and Australia.
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SUNIL FERNANDEZ-RITCHIE
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Name:
Sunil Fernandez-Ritchie
Age: 18
Sport: Athletics
Coach: Garth Ritchie
Disability: Intellectual Disability
Classification: T20
Residence: Hamilton
Background before X2X:
Participated in basketball, soccer, cricket, athletics and swimming.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Represented New Zealand at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships competing
in the 1500 metres.
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AYUSH BHATNAGAR
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Name:
Ayush Bhatnagar
Age: 17
Sport: Table Tennis
Coach:
James Han
Disability:
Cogenital Myopathy
Classification: Class 8
Residence: Auckland
Background before X2X:
Student who was
involved in cricket, athletics, swimming and badminton. Taken part in the
Independence Games, Special Olympics, Rotary Challenge Camp and Spirit of
Adventure.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Represented New Zealand at the 2011 Oceania Paralympic Championships,
winning silver in both the singles and doubles competition. Competed at the 2011
PNZ National Championships, winning gold in the doubles and silver in the
singles.
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JESSE REYNOLDS
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Name:
Jesse Reynolds
Age: 15
Sport: Swimming
Coach:
Ken
Nixon
Disability: Proximal Femoral Focal Deficiency
Classification: S9, SB8, SM9
Residence: Hamilton
Background before X2X:
Student who was involved in wheelchair basketball and swimming.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Represented New Zealand at the 2011 Oceania Paralympic Championships, placing 4th in
both the 400m freestyle and 100m butterfly.
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STEPHEN HILLS
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Name:
Stephen Hills
Age: 30
Sport:
Cycling
Coach: Brian Gilbert
Disability: Right Side Hemiplegia
Classification: C2
Residence: New Plymouth
Background before X2X:
Competed in track and field events during his youth and more recently competed
in cycling races with the local club in the weekends.
Achievements in Paralympic sport since X2X:
Competed for New Zealand at the 2011 Para-Cycling Track World Championships,
placing 11th in the 1km time trial and 12th in the 3km pursuit.
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ANTHEA GUNNER
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Name: Anthea
Gunner
Age: 30
Sport: Equestrian
Coach: Mary Longden
Disability: T10/11 Paraplegic
Classification: Grade 2, 10b
Residence: Christchurch
Background before X2X:
Previously competed in able-bodied Show Jumping and Eventing. Got involved in
Para-Equestrian in January 2008 and competed in the South Island Championships
and RDA Australia National Championships.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Achieved certificate of capability for 2010 World Equestrian Games at the
CPEDI3* qualifying event in Australia 2009 on borrowed horse, and achieved
certificate of capability for the London 2012 Paralympic Games on own horse at
the CPEDI3* qualifying event in Australia 2011.
Member of the 20120 ESNZ High Performance Squad. Reserve Champion at the
National Championships and South Island Championships in 2010 and 2011.
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RICHARD NELSON-PARKER
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Name:
Richard Nelson-Parker
Age: 17
Sport: Athletics
Coach: Paul Lothian
Disability: Cerebral Palsy
Classification: F37, T37
Residence: Auckland
Background before X2X:
Student who was involved in soccer, tennis, cricket and school athletics.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Represented New Zealand at the 2011 Oceania Paralympic Championships, competing
in the 100 metres and 200 metres.
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GRANT PHILIP
www.philip.net.nz |
Name:
Grant Philip
Age:
41
Sport:
Shooting
Disability: C5/6 Tetraplegic
Classification: SH2
Residence: Christchurch
Background before X2X:
Played two seasons of wheelchair rugby for Canterbury and competed in shooting
national and international level, including the 2006 FESPIC Games, 2007 and 2009
Oceania Paralympic Championships.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Represented New Zealand at the 2010 IPC Shooting World Championships in Croatia
and the 2010 Hessian Trophy in Germany. Competed in the 2011 IPC World Cups in
Poland, Spain and Australia, along with numerous regional and national
competitions.
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CHRIS ROSS
www.chrisrosscycling.com
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Name:
Chris Ross
Age: 23
Sport: Cycling
Coach: Simon Finnel
Disability: Missing Arm Below Elbow
Classification: C5
Residence: Auckland
Background before X2X:
Student who played representative badminton and soccer.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Represented New Zealand at the 2011 Para-Cycling Track World
Championships and 2011 Para-Cycling Road World Cup. Won three silver medals at
the 2011 Oceania Para-Cycling Track Championships.
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JOE FLAVELL
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Name:
Joe Flavell
Age: 34
Sport: Athletics
Coach: Matt Dallow
Disability: Single Above Knee Amputee
Classification: F42, T42
Residence: Auckland
Background before X2X:
A rugby league player, who represented the New Zealand Maori Rugby League team
and the Warriors Development team.
Achievements in Paralympic Sport since X2X:
Represented New Zealand at the 2011 IPC Athletics World Championships, placing
7th in the shot put.
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