Trailblazing Aussie Paralympics Legend Kevin Coombs Passes Away at 82
Legendary Australian paralympian Kevin Coombs, who made history as the first Indigenous Australian to compete at a Paralympics or Olympics, has sadly passed away at the age of 82. Coombs, a pioneer in the world of wheelchair basketball, participated in a remarkable five Paralympic Games, starting with the inaugural event in Rome in 1960. His achievements and contributions to Australian para-sport have left a lasting impact and inspired generations of athletes, both with and without disabilities.
Reflecting on the early days of the Paralympic movement, Coombs admitted that the medical support staff and athletes themselves were uncertain about how everything would work. However, this did not deter him from becoming a symbol of determination and resilience. His remarkable journey took him to subsequent Paralympic Games in 1968, 1972, 1980, and 1984, where he proudly represented Australia as captain of the national wheelchair basketball team.
Coombs’s influence extended far beyond his sporting accomplishments. In 1983, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia, recognizing his significant contributions to the nation. In 2019, he became the world’s first Paralympian to receive the esteemed honor of having the initials PLY officially recognized after his name. Additionally, Coombs had the distinct honor of carrying the torch at the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, a testament to his enduring legacy.
The impact of Coombs’s passing has reverberated throughout the Australian Paralympic movement. Just days before his death, fellow Paralympian Tracey Freeman, who won six gold medals in athletics at the 1972 and 1976 Paralympics, also passed away. Both Coombs and Freeman were inducted into the Australian Paralympic Hall of Fame in 2016, leaving a void in the hearts of their fellow athletes and supporters.
Alison Creagh, president of Paralympics Australia, expressed her condolences and acknowledged the immense contributions of these two legends. She emphasized that Coombs was a trailblazer who embodied the true spirit of the Paralympic movement. His impact, on and off the court, will forever be remembered, as he served as an inspiration not only to disabled athletes but to all Australian athletes. Freeman, as the first female Australian athlete to win a Paralympic gold medal in athletics, paved the way for future icons in the movement.
Kevin Coombs’s legacy lives on through the Uncle Kevin Coombs Medal, which is awarded at the end of each Paralympic year to the Australian athlete who best personifies his spirit and determination. As the news of his passing spreads, the global sporting community mourns the loss of an extraordinary champion and celebrates the lasting impact he has left on the Australian Paralympic movement.
