Russell Short

Veteran games participant Russell Short will be pulling out all stops in the lead up to Beijing in a bid to bring home gold at a Paralympics for the sixth consecutive time.

The super talented discus, shot put and javelin thrower has won no less than six gold, two silver and two bronze medals from participating in the last four Games as well as four gold and three silver from the last five World Championships.

The vision impaired athlete does not slow down between competing and his steely determination would put most people to shame. Not only has Russell walked the Kokoda Trail (and starred in a documentary along the way), but he also spent eight days paddling 400 kilometres from Australia to New Guinea across the treacherous Torres Strait.

Russell has been awarded an OAM and an Advance Australia Award for his contributions to sport. He is also the first athlete with a disability to be accepted into the Australian Institute of Sport.