Australia at the 2016 Summer Paralympics
Australia competed at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 7 to 18 September 2016. Australia repeated its 2012 Summer Paralympics achievement in finishing fifth of the medal tally. Notable achievements at the Games: Administration. In May 2015, the Australian Paralympic Committee (APC) announced Kate McLoughlin as the Chef de Mission. She replaced Jason Hellwig, the former APC CEO, who stepped down from the role. The APC appointed Kurt Fearnley and Daniela Di Toro as team captains. 2004 Athens Games was the last time the team had captains. Wheelchair basketballer Brad  Ness was announced as the Opening Ceremony flag bearer at a ceremony at the Paralympic Village on 5 September 2016. Curtis McGrath who lost his legs in the Afghanistan war and won Australia's first gold medal in paracanoe at the Games carried the Australian flag in the closing ceremony. Fundraising. The APC stated that it needed to raise $7 million to fund its Rio 2016 campaign. The majority of APC's funding to send Australian teams to major events originates from fundraising. In January 2016, it launched the Australian Paralympic Foundation to manage its fundraising. Cadbury made the  first major donation of $1 million. In the four-year period leading up to Rio, the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) provided $62 million in funding. At the Team Launch, Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull stated that the Australian Government had provided close to $65 million direct funding to support the 167 athletes with a disability in the lead-up to Rio." To assist with funding raising, its broadcast partner Seven Network organized a Parathon on 5 March 2016. Official team launch. The Official Australian Paralympic Team Launch was held in Sydney on 20 June 2016. The  major dignitaries present were Prime Minister of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull, Federal Minister for Sport, Sussan Ley, the Shadow Minister for Sport, Jim Chalmers and the New South Wales Minister for Sport, Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres. The Launch was held during the 2016 Australian Federal Election. There were more than 30 Rio hopefuls and representatives from each Australian Paralympic Team since 1960 in attendance. Glenn Tasker, Australian Paralympic Committee President stated that "We are not just chasing medals, we are aspiring to shape attitudes and perceptions of disability and to build on the huge momentum and growth that  the Paralympic movement is experiencing.” Prime Minister Turnbull said: "I want to salute the achievements of all of our Paralympians past and present. I want to wish you all the best on the road to Rio. you are doing our nation such great service. We are with you, we are with you all the way, we back you all the way, all the way to Rio." Medallists. The following Australian competitors won medals at the games. Multiple medallists. The following Australian athletes won multiple medals at the 2016 Paralympic Games: Team. List of team members as of 17 September 2016 . In the by discipline sections below, medallists' names are bolded. Australia was given additional qualification slots in the sports of goalball (six athletes), athletics (two athletes) and wheelchair tennis (one athlete) after Russia was suspended from the Games by the International Paralympic Committee. Two athletes from the original team of 178 did not attend - Emily Tapp due to injury and Michael Gallager due to doping violation. Several team members have changed their previous Paralympic sports at these Games: Dylan Alcott (wheelchair tennis), Jessica Gallagher (cycling), Daniela Di Toro (table tennis) and Claire McLean (paratriathlon). Archery. Jonathon Milne earned Australia a  spot at the Rio Games following his performance at the 2015 World Archery Para Championships and he was selected to make his debut in the Australian team on 29 July 2016. Milne won Australia first archery medal since 1984 by winning a bronze medal. Athletics. Australian Paralympic Committee announced a team of 44 athletes on 2 August 2016. An additional two athletes - Tamsin Colley and Jessee Wyatt were added after the Russian suspension. Emily Tapp was selected but forced to withdraw after a burnt leg did not heal in time for the Games. Australia won 26 medals – 3 gold, 9  silver and 14 bronze. Gold medalists were – Brayden Davidson, Scott Reardon and James Turner. Russell Short attended his 8th Games, Christine Dawes her 6th Games and Kurt Fearnley his fifth Games. Boccia. Australia selected Daniel Michel and his ramp assistant Ashlee McClure for their debut Games. Michel is the first player since the 2000 Sydney Paralympics Cycling. The cycling team was announced on 30 May 2016. The team consisted of 13 athletes and three sighted pilots: For Modra, this would be his eighth Paralympic Games. Michael Gallagher was originally selected but on 2 September 2016 he was withdrawn from the  team due to a positive doping test sample. Equestrian. On 28 June 2014, four riders were selected. Women - Emma Booth (d), Sharon Jarvis, Lisa Martin (d), Katie Umback (d) Goalball. The Australian women's team (Belles) originally failed to qualify after finishing third at the IBSA Goalball Asia Pacific Championships in Hangzhou, China. Australian men's team failed to qualify after finishing fifth at the IBSA Goalball Asia Pacific Championships in Hangzhou, China. Following the re-allocation of Russia's spot, Australia's women found themselves getting a last minute invite to Rio. Australia's women enter the tournament ranked  ninth in the world. Paracanoeing. On 16 June 2016, six athletes were selected to compete in the new Paralympic Games sport of paracanoe. Paratriathlon. Australian Paralympic Committee announced a team of seven athletes on 3 August 2016. Paratriathlon makes its debut at the Rio Games. Rowing. On 11 July 2016, Australian Paralympic Committee announced a team of 8 athletes. Australia will have a boat in the Legs, Trunk and Arms Mixed Coxed Four for the first time. Sailing. Selected team of 6 athletes - Matthew Bugg (Single person 2.4mR), Daniel Fitzgibbon and Liesl Tesch (Two person Skud 18), Colin Harrison, Russell  Boaden, Jonathan Harris (Three person Sonar). This will be the last Games for sailing has been taken off the 2020 Tokyo Games program. Shooting. Shooting Australia nominated six athletes in May 2016. Libby Kosmala was selected for her twelfth Games. The team was missing Paralympian Ashley Adams who was killed in 2015 accident. Australia did not win any medals. Australia's best placing was Christopher Pitt's fourth. Swimming. 36 athletes were selected on 1 August 2016. Three athletes were selected for their fourth Games - Matthew Levy, Jeremy McClure and Rick Pendleton 22 athletes were selected for their debut Paralympics  with two 14-year-olds Tiffany Thomas-Kane and Katja Dedekind being selected. Australian won 29 medals including 10 gold. Maddison Elliott won three gold and Lakeisha Patterson and Ellie Cole won two gold. Table tennis. Five athletes were selected to represent Australia. Daniela Di Toro previously represented Australia in wheelchair tennis and Melissa Tapper was set to become the first Australian to compete at both the Summer Paralympics and Summer Olympics in the same year. Samuel Von Einem in winning the silver medal won Australia's first medal since Terry Biggs won gold in 1984. Wheelchair basketball. Men's  tournament. The Rollers qualified by winning the 2015 Asia Oceania Qualifying Tournament. On 19 July 2016, the APC announced a team of twelve players with five of them making their Paralympic debut. During the draw, Brazil had the choice of which group they wanted to be in. They were partnered with Spain, who would be in the group Brazil did not select. Brazil chose Group B, which included Iran, the United States, Great Britain, Germany and Algeria. That left Spain in Group A with Australia, Canada, Turkey, the Netherlands and Japan. Josh Allison (d), Jannik Blair, Adam Deans (d), Tristan  Knowles, Bill Latham, Matthew McShane (d), Brad Ness, Shaun Norris, Tom O'Neill-Thorne (d), Shawn Russell (d), Tige Simmons, Brett Stibners Women's tournament. The Gliders did not qualify after finishing second to China at the 2015 Asia Oceania Qualifying Tournament. Wheelchair rugby. Australia won the 2014 World Wheelchair Rugby Championships, thereby automatically qualifying to defend the Paralympic title they won in London. On 25 July 2016, the APC announced a team of 12 players. Australia entered the tournament ranked number two in the world. Wheelchair tennis. Selected team of 4 athletes on 28 July 2016. Sarah Calati was added  to the team as a result of Russia's selection. Ben Weekes was competing at his fourth Games and wheelchair basketball gold medallist Dylan Alcott was competing in wheelchair tennis for the first time. Sarah Calati was a late inclusion due to the banning of the Russian team. Administration and support. Team Executive – Kate McLoughlin (Chef de Mission), Paul Bird (Deputy Chef de Mission), Phil Borgeaud (Head of Performance), Chris Nunn (Head of Operations) Media Team – Tim Mannion (Head of Media and Broadcast), Sascha Ryner (Digital Coordinator and Media Liaison Officer - Table Tennis, Boccia), Margie McDonald (Media Liaison Officer – Athletics , Archery), Gennie Sheer (Media Liaison Officer – Cycling), Amanda Shalala (Media Liaison Officer– Rowing, Canoe), Alexandra Factor (Media Liaison Officer – Equestrian, Shooting), Neil Cross (Broadcast Liaison Officer), Alice Wheeler (Broadcast Liaison Officer), Brett Frawley (Videographer), Simon Christie (Videographer), Jeff Crow (Chief Photographer), Jacqueline Chartres (Media Manager Sydney Office) Medical Staff - Broadcasting. The Australian Paralympic Committee purchased the broadcast rights to the Socchi Winter and Rio Summer Games for less than $400,000. It then sold the rights to the Seven Network. Previously the Australian Broadcasting Corporation broadcast the Games. Seven Network broadcast the Games on 7Two as well as via digital  channels, including the 7Live app. There were 20 per cent more hours broadcast than the London Paralympics. Broadcast statistics included: Major advertisers and sponsors were: Optus, Samsung, Visa Inc, Swisse, Woolworths Supermarkets and Toyota.