Chris Mullens

When Chris Mullins walked into his first ever tutorial at La Trobe University, he thought all his Christmases had come at once, glancing around to find himself the only guy among a room full of young ladies. It could also be said that the second year nursing student, who is described as a fun loving, larrikin was as pleased with his odds the same year when he won gold in the 4×400m relay at the 2006 ICP World Championships in Assen, Holland.

Hailing from a sporting and competitive family – a younger brother who also runs, a mother who was a state level javelin thrower and tennis player as well as a father who played basketball, it’s no wonder Chris, who was born with cerebral palsy, has a steely determination to represent Australia in Beijing 2008.

Coached by Jeff Hawkins, the Victorian Institute of Sport athlete earlier this year won the 2007 Bank@Post Paralympics Invitation at the Stawell Gift. In 2006 Chris won the Wheelchair Sports Victoria Most Outstanding Performance by a Junior Male and was also awarded Preston Athletics Club Best Clubperson 2006/07.

Chris admires those who put in the hard yards to be the best they can be and believes that a day missed training is a day his rivals have gained on him, motivating him as he dreams of gold in Beijing.