Ben Austin facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Ben Austin

Austin waves to the crowd as he celebrates his silver medal win in the 200 m medley SM8 event at the 2000 Summer Paralympics
Personal information
Nationality	Australia
Born	(1980-11-07) 7 November 1980 (age 44) Wellington, New South Wales, Australia
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	83 kg (183 lb)
Sport
Sport	Swimming
Strokes	Freestyle, medley, butterfly
Classifications	S8, SB7, SM8
Medal record Men's Paralympic swimming Representing  Australia Paralympic Games Gold 2004 Athens 100 m freestyle S8 Gold 2004 Athens 4×100 m medley Gold 2008 Beijing 4×100 m medley Silver 2000 Sydney 200 m medley SM8 Silver 2000 Sydney 4×100 m freestyle Silver 2004 Athens 100 m butterfly S8 Silver 2004 Athens 200 m medley SM8 Silver 2004 Athens 4×100 m freestyle Silver 2008 Beijing 4×100 m freestyle Bronze 2000 Sydney 100 m butterfly S8 Bronze 2000 Sydney 4×100 m medley Bronze 2004 Athens 50 m freestyle S8 IPC Swimming World Championships Bronze 2002 Mar del Plata Men's 50m Freestyle S8 Bronze 2002 Mar del Plata Men's 100m Freestyle S8 Silver 2002 Mar del Plata Men's 100m Freestyle Relay 34 pts Gold 2006 Durban 4×100 m medley 34 pts Silver 2006 Durban 4×100 m freestyle 34 pts Bronze 2006 Durban 100 m butterfly S8 Commonwealth Games Gold 2002 Manchester EAD 50 m freestyle Gold 2002 Manchester EAD 100 m freestyle Gold 2010 Delhi 100 m freestyle S8

Benjamin James Austin, also known as Ben Austin, is an amazing Australian swimmer. He was born on November 7, 1980. Ben is an Elite Athlete with a Disability (EAD), which means he competes in sports for athletes with physical impairments. His swimming classification is S8, which is for athletes with certain types of limb loss. He has won many medals, including gold at the Paralympic Games and Commonwealth Games.

About Ben Austin

Ben Austin was born in Wellington, Australia. He is proud of his Aboriginal heritage through his grandmother. When he was just a few weeks old, doctors had to remove his left arm above the elbow because of problems at birth.

Even though he's a top swimmer, Ben also loves playing other sports. He enjoys rugby league, rugby union, water polo, and basketball. He is also a university student, studying to become an English as a Second Language teacher. He also studies kinesiology, which is the study of how the body moves. Ben lives in Sydney, Australia. He is about 1.87 meters (6 feet 2 inches) tall and weighs around 83 kilograms (183 pounds). He has four sisters.

Ben's Swimming Career

Austin swims his way to silver in the 200 m medley SM8 at the 2000 Summer Paralympics

Ben started swimming when he was five years old. He began competing seriously in 1996. In 1999, he proudly represented Australia for the very first time. While he is famous for his Paralympic swimming, he has also competed in swimming events for athletes without disabilities. He trains with Warringah Aquatic and his coach is Ben Davies. He was also part of the Australian Institute of Sport, which helps top athletes.

Paralympic Games Achievements

Ben has competed in three Paralympic Games: Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, and Beijing 2008.

• Sydney 2000: Ben won a silver medal in the 200-meter individual medley. He also earned two bronze medals in the 100-meter butterfly and the 4x100-meter medley relay. He was ranked number one in the 200-meter individual medley before these Games!

• Athens 2004: This was a huge Games for Ben! He won two gold medals: one in the 100-meter freestyle and another in the 4x100-meter medley relay. For these wins, he received a special award called the Medal of the Order of Australia. He also won three silver medals in the 100-meter butterfly, 200-meter individual medley, and 4x100-meter freestyle relay. He also got a bronze medal in the 50-meter freestyle. During these Games, he even set two new world records in the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly events!

• Beijing 2008: Ben continued his success, winning a gold medal in the Men's 4x100-meter Medley 34 pts relay. He also took home a silver medal in the 4x100-meter freestyle relay.

World Championships and Other Events

Ben also competed at the IPC Swimming World Championships in 2002 and 2006. At the 2008 Australian Championships, he swam his fastest time ever in the 100-meter Freestyle event.

Ben Austin is known for helping to bring more respect and recognition to Paralympic swimming in Australia. He was the first Paralympic Telstra Dolphins Ambassador and the first Paralympic ambassador for Austswim.

Commonwealth Games Achievements

Ben has also excelled at the Commonwealth Games.

• 2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games: Ben won two gold medals! He set world records in both the 50-meter EAD freestyle and the 100-meter EAD freestyle events.

• 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games: Ben won another gold medal in the 100-meter freestyle S8 event.

See also

In Spanish: Ben Austin (nadador) para niños

Images for kids

• 

  Austin waves to the crowd as he celebrates his silver medal win in the 200 m medley SM8 event at the 2000 Summer Paralympics