Deahnne McIntyre

One of Australia’s few female powerlifters, Deahnne McIntyre trains at the ACT Academy of Sport under the guidance of national coach, Ray Epstein. She is serious and committed to her sport and is also highly successful. Deahnne holds the Australian record lifting 137.5kg and is hoping this will qualify her for the 2008 Beijing Paralympics.

Originally competing in Athletics up to 1990 and lawn bowls in 1999, Deahnne switched to powerlifting just before the Sydney Paralympics as it was the first time females were allowed to compete in the sport. Deahnne had experienced success in athletics, winning a gold medal in the 200m, silver in the 400m and the 4 × 400m relay and bronze in the 100m, still with the stitches from having her appendix out 4 days before her first event at the1988 Seoul Paralympics.

In 1986, she was named 1985 Young Australian of the Year, one of her proudest moments. She was also the first person to win a gold medal for the ACT when she competed in the Pacific School Games whilst still at school. Deahnne has been named 2008 Pacific School Games Ambassador to be held in Canberra. Deahnne believes it is important for kids to have role models and feels that if she can inspire young kids with disabilities to see that anything is possible, then her job is done.