Cheer on our local Paralympians

Come on, Paige! Come on, Jake!

These are the two swim stars that Redlands Coast residents are being urged to cheer on during the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

Australia’s para-swimming team members Paige Leonhardt and Jake Michel are not only representing their country in the Paris La Defense Arena pool, but they also are representing their hometown of Redlands Coast.

Paralympians Paige Leonhardt and Jake Michel at a Council event to celebrate their success at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games.

Mayor Jos Mitchell said Thornlands-raised Paige, 23, and Jake, 26, from Birkdale were inspirational athletes who were expected to put in superb performances at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.

“They have exceptional form,” she said, “with Jake scoring a silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in 2021, in his specialty event, the men’s 100m breaststroke.

“It was a thrilling finish with Jake producing a personal best and breaking the Australian record to place second to Japan’s Naohide Yamaguchi who set a world record time of 1:03.77, to Michel’s 1:04.28.

“Paige, who made her Paralympics debut at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, also came home from Tokyo with a silver medal. She flew home to place second in the 100m butterfly, while finishing sixth in both the 100m breaststroke and 200m individual medley finals.

“I wish them both huge success in the Paris pool and I know Redlands Coast residents will be with them every stroke of the way.

“Let’s rally behind them and the rest of the Australian Paralympic team and help them achieve gold, gold, gold!”

Paralympics Australia has profiled the two swimmers, with the association saying Jake, a breaststroke specialist who has an intellectual impairment, first began competing in para-swimming in 2014.

“It was only after being named to the Dolphins’ development squad in 2018 that Australians realised what they had on their hands – a future Paralympic champion,” the association reported.

“After being internationally classified at the 2019 World Para-swimming World Series, Jake won two gold medals over 50m and 100m.

“These results all but secured Jake’s place at the 2019 World Para-swimming Championships, where he just missed the podium with fourth place – and a new Oceanian record – in the men’s 100m breaststroke SB14.”

Paralympics Australia report that when Paige was five years old, she was in a car accident in which she was thrown from the vehicle.

“Her injuries from the accident were severe, requiring four years of recovery with spinal taps, MRIs and operations to remove fluid from her brain,” it reported.

“She had haemorrhages behind the eyes and now suffers from drusens, yellow deposits under the retinas. She continues to suffer hemiplegia on her right side as well as intracranial hypertension, epilepsy and autism.

“She started swimming when she was 12 years old when she was undergoing therapy. Swimming is in Paige’s blood – her grandmother was friends with Dawn Fraser.”

They both have birthdays just after the Games, with Jake turning 27 on 19 September and Paige turning 24 on 21 September.

When to watch:

Jake Michel’s event:

Men’s 100m Breaststroke heats – Monday 2 September from 5.30pm

Paige Leonhardt’s events:

Women’s 100m Butterfly final, Paige placed 7thWomen’s 100m Breaststroke heats – Monday 2 September from 5.30pmWomen’s 200m Individual Medley heats – Wednesday 4 September from 5.30pm

Watch live and free on Channel 9 and 9Now. (All times AEST)

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games continue until 9 September.