Liesl Tesch wins Paralympic accolades

Woy Woy athlete and two-time Paralympic champion Liesl Tesch has been awarded with two accolades at the 2016 Australian Paralympic Awards.

The seven-time Paralympian won both the inaugural Uncle Kevin Coombs Medal for the Spirit of the Games, awarded by 2016 co-captains Kurt Fearnley and Daniela Di Toro, as well as the Paralympic Team of the Year award alongside her Australian Sailing Teammates.

Tesch, who transitioned from wheelchair basketball to sailing in 2011, teamed up with Daniel Fitzgibbon to win gold in the two-person keelboat Skud18 event at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, finishing ahead of Canada and Great Britain.

Dominant throughout their Games campaign, they placed first in eight races and second in three, becoming the first pair to win the title back-to-back.

Five-time Paralympian Fearnley said of their decision to present Tesch with the award: "There is nobody who lives and breathes the spirit of the Games in every aspect of their life like Liesl."

Di Toro said, "When I think about this mob and what it means to be a Paralympian, not only our successes as athletes but also as teammates and members of the community, none fly the flag higher than Liesl."

Congratulating Tesch on her achievements, Australian Paralympic Committee chief executive Ms Lynne Anderson said: "The expertise, preparation and execution of the Australian Paralympic sailing team were unrivalled at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, where they achieved a near-perfect result of two gold and one silver medal.

"Liesl and Dan did their sport and nation proud when they became the first pair to win the Skud18 title back-to-back, and with sailing removed from the Paralympic program for Tokyo 2020, being awarded Paralympic Team of the Year seems the perfect cap to an extraordinary season," she said.

Chef de mission of the 2016 Australian Paralympic team, Kate McLoughlin, said: "The Australian Paralympic Sailing Team dominated in the water this year.

"Liesl and Dan, as well as the Sonar crew won gold, and Matt Bugg placed second, winning Australia's first ever medal in the 2.4m R class.

"While it's a shame that sailing has been removed from the Paralympic program in 2020, the entire team can be incredibly proud of their achievements, and can know that they've created a legacy and a name for Australia in their sport."

Media releases, 5 and 8 Dec 2016

Lauren Robertson, Australian Paralympic Committee