I rise to speak to the motion moved by the Hon. Tung Ngo wishing our Olympians and Paralympians well for participating in the Rio Olympic Games, particularly those from South Australia. Of course, the opposition supports this motion despite the fact that it is now well after the conclusion of the games. I am sure we all wished our athletes well before they embarked on their respective campaigns for Olympic and Paralympic glory.
In particular, I wish to congratulate the South Australian athletes on their efforts during the respective games. There were 50 South Australian Olympians. Those from athletics were Henry Frayne and Chelsea Jaensch (long jump); Tanya Holliday (20km walk); Kurtis Marschall (pole vault); Jessica Trengove (marathon) who is also the sister of Jack who plays in the AFL for Melbourne—a good South-East family, I believe—and Jared Tallent (50km walk) who won the silver medal.
In badminton we had Leanne Choo from the mixed doubles, and in basketball we had Joe Ingles from the men's basketball team as well as Cayla George, Laura Hodges, Stephanie Talbot and the great Erin Phillips from the women's team. Again, further congratulations to Erin for being drafted to the mighty Adelaide Crows in the AFL women's comp.
In beach volleyball we had the pairs of Maria Fe Artacho del Solar and Nicole Laird, and Louise Bawden and Taliqua Clancy. Represented in BMX was Anthony Dean and, of course, Sam Willoughby who is in our thoughts and prayers as he tries to recover from the terrible accident that he recently had.
In cycling we had Jack Bobridge (team pursuit, silver medal); Patrick Constable (team sprint, sprint and keirin); Alex Edmondson (team pursuit, silver medal) and sister Annette Edmondson (team pursuit and omnium); Matthew Glaetzer (team sprint, sprint and keirin); Stephanie Morton (team sprint, sprint and keirin); Glenn O'Shea (omnium); and Callum Scotson (team pursuit, silver medal).
Of course, the great Anna Meares won a bronze medal in the keirin, and she was in the team sprint and sprint. She was granted the great honour of carrying the Australian flag during the opening ceremony, which was widely expected, given the gravity of her contribution to the Australian Olympic team over her career. She recently announced her retirement, stating that her body was held together by tape during Rio, yet she still managed to win a bronze medal, such is her mental toughness and cycling prowess. I wish her all the best.
In diving we had Grant Nel (three-metre springboard) and in equestrian we had Scott Keach (jumping and individual). In hockey we had Jane Claxton, Karri McMahon, Gabi Nance and Georgie Parker. In rowing we had the aptly named Olympia Aldersey (women's eight); Alexander Belonogoff (men's quad, silver medal); Molly Goodman (women's eight); Alexander Hill (men's four, silver medal); Sally Kehoe (women's double); James McRae (men's quad, silver medal); and Chris Morgan (men's double).
In shooting we had David Chapman (25-metre rapid fire pistol); William Godward (50-metre rifle three positions, men); Jack Rossiter (10-metre air rifle); and Dane Sampson (50-metre rifle three positions, men; 50-metre rifle prone, men; and 10-metre air rifle). In swimming we had Joshua Palmer in the100-metre breaststroke. Kyle Chalmers was one of the great success stories of the Rio games, when the 18-year-old Immanuel College student won gold in the 100-metre freestyle. He also won bronze in the 4 x100 metre freestyle and the 4 x100 metre medley relays. He is also the son of a gun, his father being the former AFL player Brett Chalmers.
In tennis we had Thanasi Kokkinakis, and we look forward to him doing well on the tour in the future. On the trampoline was Blake Gaudry and in water polo, Isobel Bishop. South Australia had nine Paralympians who did a fabulous job. They were, from athletics, Gabriel Cole, Brayden Davidson and Michael Roeger. In the paracanoe there was Jocelyn Neumuller and in cycling there was Kieran Modra, who has certainly done this country and our state an outstanding service over a number of Paralympic Games.
In shooting we had the great Libby Kosmala, who has been to a number of Paralympics and gives an enormous amount back to the sport. In swimming we had Jesse Aungles (100-metre butterfly and many other events) and Liam Bekric. In table tennis we had Sam von Einem.
The feats of many of these athletes in the Paralympics are quite amazing, and in many ways Paralympians are faster and jump higher and are much stronger than their Olympic cousins. In many cases, the suggestion that many of these athletes are disabled is a complete misnomer. The human body is resilient, and when combined with a strong mind it is quite amazing to see what setbacks can be overcome. I again congratulate all Olympians and Paralympians, the medal winners in particular, and I commend the motion to the council.