Sport Inclusion Australia

10/06/2026

Congratulations Ben Hance

Virtus World Record 🚀

Ben Hance has continued his assult on the Virtus World record for the 50m bacsktroke, the 25-year-old form the Sunshine Coast qualified for his first open final – in eighth place, believed to be the first time a Multi-Disability athlete has reached that milestone in Australian swimming.

Hance clocked a time of 25.65 in his heat swim, lowering his previous mark of 25.76. It is the sevent time Hance has lowered the Virtus world record for athletes with an intellectual impairment.

Congratulations Ben and coach Ash!

Continue reading on our website
🔗https://qld.swimming.org.au/news-articles/ben-hance-lowers-his-virtus-50m-backstroke-world-record-seventh-time

Photo by Delly Carr / Swimming Australia

09/06/2026

Table Tennis Australia is thrilled to partner with Asian Women Development Plan International to deliver a free, fun and social four-week come-and-try series for women and girls at the Museum of Chinese Australian History in Melbourne, named Rally Her Collective 👋

The launch event will take place on Friday 26 June, followed by three more sessions (3, 10, 17 July) providing further accessible, social table tennis opportunities and AWDPI community workshops.

Full information can be found here ➡️ tabletennis.org.au/news/tta-and-awdpi-partner-to-deliver-activation-at-museum-of-ca-hist

| Chinese Museum 澳華歷史博物館

05/06/2026

This is our fundraising campaign. We couldn’t afford this ad because we don’t have an advertising budget – and neither do our athletes.

Athletes with an intellectual impairment train, qualify, and represent Australia at international Virtus events. � �But unlike most national teams, they fund it entirely themselves.

We’re working to change that.

Your support helps reduce the cost of competing – so more athletes can say ‘yes’ to the opportunity of representing Australia on the world stage.

Hear from Archie Graham, Australian Tennis Player, on what it means to compete and represent his country.

Support the team this tax time. Give before 30 June 2026 to received tax deductible benefits.

🧡💙Donate Now: https://sportinclusionaustralia.org.au/donate-25-26-tax-appeal/

04/06/2026

Congratulations

🏇 Results from Round 2 of the 2026 Virtus Para Dressage Video Competition are out! 🏇

Congratulations to all athletes who took part in Round 2.
This round showcased impressive skill, dedication, and partnership between athletes and their horses, with competitors from Australia and Great Britain delivering outstanding performances.

Special mention to champions from various tests:

🥇🥇 Sarah Sherwood (Australia)- FEI Grade IV Novice A and FEI Grade IV Intermediate A – Sarah Sherwood (Australia)

🥇🥇 Sui Watts (Australia) - FEI Para Dressage Challenge II, Grade III Para Foundation Test and FEI Grade III Novice A

🥇 Layne Auer (Australia) - Grade II Intermediate A and Grade II Novice A

🥇Danielle Curzon (Great Britain) - FEI Grade IV Novice A (Performance II3)

🥇 Laura Crew (Great Britain) - FEI Grade IV Intermediate A (Performance II3)

Thank you to all athletes, coaches, officials, and supporters for making this competition a success. We are proud to celebrate the achievements of athletes with intellectual disabilities on the international stage.

View the full results here: https://virtus.sport/results-rankings-records -id-11

02/06/2026

Congratulations to our Equestrian riders who have had outstanding results at the latest Virtus Online Video competition.

Sarah Sherwood riding Dicavalli Royal Guess dominated the II-1 event with outstanding scores of 77% and 75.2% winning both the FEI Grace IV Novice A and Intermediate A competitions.

Sue Watts riding Kingswood Maximillion took out the II-2 events with high scores of 71.07% and 69.38%.

Phoebe Roche on Romper Stomper continued her outstanding form with outstanding scores of 74.6% and 72.25% for 2 second placings in a very tough competition.

Other medallists include: Jaydan Pilmore on Teddy finishing third in the II-1 FEI Grade IV Intermediate A event with a score of 65%.

FEI Grade IV Intermediate A
Catherine Viney (Jackabite) 62.4% 5th II-1
Isabella Parisi (Kalinda Park Adina Flash) 54.8% 6th II-1
Grace Murphie-Ryan (Pemberton Show Biz) 72% 4th II-3

Competing in the Development competition Layne Bauer (Agent Albert) scored the highest in both tests with scores of 65.26% and 65.94%, with Lizzie Brennan (Leo) score 60.63%

Congratulations to all riders, horses and coaches on some outstanding results.


Australian Sporting Alliance for People with Disability
Equestrian South Australia Inc
Para-Equestrian Western Australia
Equestrian Australia
Equestrian Life
Equestrian Queensland
Life Stream Australia
Sports 4 AllSport Inclusion NSW & ACT

01/06/2026

A huge congratulations to Archie Hewitt (T20) and Lindsey Hendy (TF20) on their selection for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games as part of Australia’s Para Athletics team 🇦🇺

A wonderful recognition of talented athletes and all the hard work behind the scenes to get to this moment.

Congratulations as well to the full Australian Para Athletics team — we wish you all the very best as you prepare for Glasgow 2026.

Read the full story via Australian Athletics: https://www.athletics.com.au/news/green2gold2great-unlocks-australias-biggest-ever-para-athletics-team-at-commonwealth-games/

Australia’s biggest ever Para-athletics team for a Commonwealth Games has been supported by the Green2Gold2Great Initiative.

01/06/2026

On and off the field, Hugo "Rockstar" Taheny continues to inspire communities across Australia 🌟

As a world champion para-athlete and disability advocate, Hugo has been named the recipient of the Aceit Transport Solutions Sports in the Community Award at the 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards SA in recognition of his incredible leadership and contribution to sport and the community.

Congratulations Hugo, and thank you for your dedication to building a more inclusive future.

Hugo Rockstar Taheny Athlete

🏆 Congratulations to the Winner of the 2026 Aceit Transport Solutions Sports in the Community Award, Hugo Taheny!

Hugo Taheny of Yorke Peninsula known as Hugo Rockstar, is a world champion para-athlete and disability advocate who has set world records and won gold medals at the Virtus Global Games in shot put, discus, and javelin. A Health Ambassador for Down Syndrome Australia, Hugo presents annually to hundreds of medical students, lobbies government ministers on disability inclusion, and volunteers as a Little Athletics SA Para Athlete Ambassador every Saturday morning. He has contributed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital's Disability Access and Inclusion Plan, the NDIS Supported Decision Making Reference Group, and the World Down Syndrome Congress. Winner of the inaugural SA Life Young Inspiring Leader Award, Hugo is paving the way for future generations of athletes with disability.

29/05/2026

Is your future Green + Gold? 💛💚

Future Green + Gold is a nationwide talent search.

The Institute of Sport and Paralympics Australia are looking for Australia's next generation of Paralympic athletes to represent the country on the world stage.

No previous sporting experience is required - just a willingness to give it a go.

The program is designed to help identify your strengths and guide you towards sports where you may have the greatest potential.

Take the first step and see where sport could take you.

Learn more or apply at ausport.gov.au/talent

Australian Paralympic Team

[Image description: Green and gold graphic tile with the words 'Future Green + Gold' and 'Be Discovered'. It features the logos of the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport.]

25/05/2026

We're fundraising to help athletes compete in international competition.

We can’t afford advertising.

Many of our athletes can’t afford to compete.

Athletes with an intellectual impairment represent Australia at the highest level at international Virtus events – but they pay their own way to get there.

Travel, accommodation, team costs – it all adds up.
For many, it’s the difference between going for gold…and staying home.

We’re raising funds to reduce the cost.

If you can, please support the team by donating. Even the smallest amount helps.

Give before 30 June 2026 for tax deductible benefits.

🧡💙 Donate Now: https://sportinclusionaustralia.org.au/donate-25-26-tax-appeal/