LONDON 2012 – Athletics Australia – PARALYMPICS: Proudfoot looking to improve on Beijing silver in London

A testament to the success of the Australian Paralympic Committee’s Talent Search Program, Kath Proudfoot (NSW) happily admits she became an elite athlete with a disability by accident. 

After completing a workout in Newcastle (NSW) in 2005, the now Australian Institute of Sport scholarship holder Proudfoot, who has cerebral palsy, on a whim took part in a search for new athletes by the Australian Paralympic Committee as she was leaving the gym.

Produfoot said: “I became involved in Paralympic sport completely out of the blue, I was leaving a gym and they were setting up an APC talent search day and I decided to try out and see what happens. As they say the rest is history, after trying out they found me a coach and now I am based in Canberra at the Australian Institute of Sport and really loving my athletics.”

Twelve months later, Proudfoot made her Australian debut at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne (Vic), competing in the 100m, before future national representation in the throws at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Assen (NED) and Christchurch (NZL) and the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing (CHN).

Proudfoot continued: “My first team experience at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne in 2006 was amazing, competing at home is incomparable. Funnily though I ran the 100m there but since then I’ve only competed in throws.

“Beijing was really special because it was my first Paralympics. The world champs are awesome but nothing compares to a Paralympic Games, from the village to thesize of the crowds and the overall atmosphere, it is just amazing. I won a silver medal in the discus, and came fourth in the shot.”

Content with her medal winning performance four years ago, Proudfoot is now on the hunt for bigger success when she competes in the F35/36 shot put and discus at the 2012 London Paralympic Games when they commence on August 29, 2012.

Produfoot said: “I am really hoping to win two medals in London. After finishing second and fourth in Beijing I know that I am capable of delivering a great performance in both events and ideally one of the medals won will be gold.

“I have had a really strong domestic season, have finished a solid block of heavy weights and base training and am now wrapping up the technical corrections I need to be as prepared as possible for the Games. My coach Aaron (Holt) and I have done everything we can and I am confident that will translate into success in London.”

Proudfoot is a speech pathologist, and is in the midst of completing her PhD at the University of Newcastle. Of New Zealand heritage, she spent part of her childhood in Wales before moving to Australia and settling in Newcastle (NSW).

The 2012 London Paralympic Games will be the fifteenth Paralympics, the second to be hosted in Great Britain after Stoke Mandeville in 1984 and the first to be staged in London.

An estimated 4200 athletes and officials from 165 countries will take oart across 20 sports at the Games.

For more information on the 2012 London Paralympic Games, please visit the Australian Paralympic Committee website or the LOCOG website.

Athletics Australia – News