page_title: Australia at the 1996 Summer Paralympics
section_title: Individual Highlights
hierarchical_section_title: Australia at the 1996 Summer Paralympics / Individual Highlights
caption_attribution_description: English: Australian S12 swimmer Kingsley Bugarin swims breaststroke at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games
context_page_description: The 1996 Summer Paralympics were held in the United States city of Atlanta. Australia competed in 13 of the 17 sports, winning medals in 10 of those sports.
  At the 1996 Summer Paralympics, Australia had the second highest medal tally of any country competing. It won 42 gold, 37 silver and 27 bronze medals. It surpassed the 24 gold medals that Australia won at the 1992 Paralympics. The sports of athletics, swimming and cycling provided Australia with the majority of its medals.
context_section_description: Louise Sauvage (Australia) is one of the most influential Paralympians of all time. Those who were lucky enough to see her at the '96 games were treated to 4 gold medals in the 400, 800, 1500 and 5000 meter wheelchair racing events. She won almost one – tenth of all Australia's medals that year. At a young age she was also coached by former Paralympic champion Frank Ponta who she described as a patient coach at a young age. Not only was she successful in Athens she went on to record 13 medals across 4 Olympic games. Her book, 'My Story' published in 2002 is a fine farewell before another 2 silver medals in 2004, her last Paralympic games. She has also since been inducted into the Paralympic hall of fame, in 2011.
  Kingsley Bugarin was Australia's best swimmer with a world record swim in the 200m B2(s12) Breastroke with a time of 2:35:21 at the games and finished with gold. He also medalled in the 100m Breastroke (gold), 200 individual medley (gold) as well as silver medals in the 100m butterfly and 100m freestyle and finally a bronze in the 400m freestyle. 
  Gemma Dashwood had her best ever paralympic games with 3 gold in the Women's 100 m Butterfly S10, Women's 400 m Freestyle S10 and the Women's 4 × 100 m Freestyle S7-10. She also picked up two silver medals in the Women's 100m and 200m Freestyle S10. She now works at Canberra hospital after finishing swimming and studying medicine.
  Brendan Burkett was also a long time competitor who stood out in Atlanta. He achieved a gold medal in the Men's 50 m S9 Freestyle as well as a silver in S7-10 Men's 4 × 100 m Freestyle relay. He went on to compete at 4 Paralympic games and be the flag bearer at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics and received the Outstanding Service to Swimming Australia Award in 2009. In 2009 he was also inducted into the Queensland sporting Hall of Fame.
  Priya Cooper is an S8 classification swimmer who competed in 8 events at the 1996 games. She was also the co-captain of the swimming team and brought home 5 gold medals. She also was a flag bearer at the closing ceremony for her outstanding achievements in the pool. In October 2015, her career was formerly recognised when she became the fourth Paralympian to be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
caption: Kingsley Bugarin - 200m breastroke world record holder
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