Sport

First woman to win Paralympic marathon gold

MADISON de Rozario made history when she became the first Australian female to win a Paralympic marathon gold medal, taking out the women’s T54 wheelchair race in record-breaking time.

The Sydney Olympic Park resident finished her three track events with two gold medals and a bronze.
“Thankfully it played out in my favour a little with the wet weather – (coach Louise Sauvage) and I have a process to prep ourselves for rain,” said de Rozario, who sprayed her gloves and rim with the same glue-like spray the pole vaulters use.
Speaking about her bronze medal win in the Women’s 1,500m T54, she said it was a cagey race with no-one wanting to show their cards too early.
“I just went for it with a lap to go; it was far from the perfect race but to make it onto a Paralympic podium, I’m pretty happy with that.”
She finished with gold in the 800m T53 and marathon T54, and bronze in the 1,500m T54.
Auburn Swimming Club members Timothy Hodge and Ricky Betar also added to the medal tally.
Hodge won silver in the 200m individual medley SM9 and bronze in 100m backstroke S9, while Betar was part of the silver medal winning mixed 4x100m freestyle relay S14.
Australia won 80 medals to finish sixth overall and 21 gold to come eighth.