Paul Croft
Paul Croft Australian Flagbearer at the 1988 Paralympics
Personal information
Full namePaul Croft
NationalityAustralian
Born (1951-03-11) 11 March 1951
Sydney

Paul Croft (born 11 March 1951) is an Australian arm amputee athlete who has participated in four Summer Paralympic Games. He was the Australian team captain and flag bearer at the 1988 Seoul Paralympics.[1]

Personal

Croft was born on 11 March 1951 in Sydney.[1] He was a TAFE business studies teacher in Sydney.[1] In 1992, he was Liverpool Citizen of the Year.[2]

Paralympics career

Paul Croft (front) and Kyrra Grunnsund running in the 10000m at 1992 Paralympics

His first Summer Paralympics was at the 1984 New York Paralympics, where he finished seventh in the Men's 1500m A6 and fourth in the Men's 5000m A6.[3] At the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, he was appointed the Australian team captain. He participated in two sports.[3] In athletics, he finished sixth in the Men's 10000m A6A8A9L4 despite an Achilles tendon injury.[4] In table tennis he competed in the Men's Singles TT7 but do not progress past the preliminary round.[3] At the 1992 Summer Paralympics, he finished seventh in the Men's 10000 m TS4.[3] Croft qualified for the marathon at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics but was not selected due to the size of the team.[5] At the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, at the age of 49, he was a member of the Australian sitting volleyball team.[5] Croft had tried out for the standing volleyball team but transferred to sitting volleyball after he realized he was unlikely to be selected.[5] He was originally not selected in the sitting volleyball team but fought to have the decision overturned.[5] He ran a leg of the Sydney Paralympic Games Torch Relay.[5]

In his post Paralympics career, Croft has been coaching at the Bankstown Sports Athletics Club[6] and a regular swimmer. He has had three knee reconstructions and a serious push bike accident.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Australian Media Guide : 2000 Paralympic Games. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2000.
  2. ↑ Australian Team Members Profile Handbook. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Federation. 1992.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Paul Croft results". International Paralympic Committee Historical Results Database. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  4. ↑ Crean, John (25 October 1988). "Disabled athletes seek more support". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games". New South Wales Parliament Legislative Assembly Hansard. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "About". Bankstown Sports Athletics Club. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  7. ↑ "PAYCE BACKS CRONULLA SHARK ISLAND SWIM UNDER A LONG TERM SPONSORSHIP PLAN". Payce website. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2015.
  • Paul Croft at Australian Athletics Historical Results
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