Veteran Paralympian Angie Ballard's quest for an elusive gold medal will stretch to a sixth Games after she was named in Australia's 36-strong squad which will head to Tokyo next month.
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The wheelchair sprinter, who will be joined by fellow Canberrans Scott Reardon and Evan O'Hanlon on the Australian Para-athletics team, has accumulated four silver and four bronze medals so far in a career that has now entered its third decade.
Reardon and O'Hanlon have been to two and four games respectively, and alongside Ballard combine to bring a reassuring veteran presence to the Australian Para-Athletic team that includes nine debutants.
"If you look at the results from 2013 onwards, we've been building and we've got a good mix of youth and experience now," Reardon said.
"At the 2017 and 2019 World Championships we had strong years, so now we've got to try and capitalise on some of those results.
"There are a number of people in this team who are capable of winning medals - and top medals as well - which is fantastic."
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Athletics Australian chief Peter Bromley was excited to see what Ballard and the Australian team could do at the Games.
"We have real veterans - Christie Dawes is going to her seventh Paralympic Games, an achievement only one other Australian track and field representative has surpassed," Bromley said.
"We have Angie Ballard and Evan O'Hanlon at their sixth and fourth Games respectively, and we have nine more burgeoning debutants, all of whom are eager to wear the green and gold and make their contribution.
"The Australian Para-athletics team has such a rich history of success at the Paralympic Games.
"What's more exciting is the mix of experience we have on this team."
Australian Paralympians have won 468 medals including 153 golds since the first Games in 1960.
Chef de Mission Kate McLoughlin said finalising the squad was another major step towards the delayed Tokyo Paralympics.
"We named the first members of this squad back in September last year, so it's been a long road for these athletes," McLoughlin said.
"I'm so impressed by the way they've handled everything that's come their way. They've well and truly earned their place in what's clearly a strong Australian athletics Team, with established stars and several really exciting up-and-comers across a wide range of events.
"We have such a proud tradition in Para-athletics and I'm really excited to see this team create their own history in Tokyo."
