Don Elgin facts for kids
2000 Australian Paralympic team portrait of Elgin
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| Full name | Donald James William Elgin | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality |  Australia |
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| Born | 19 December 1975 Donald, Victoria |
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| Height | 178 centimetres (70 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 80 kilograms (180 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Club | Sandringham | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Donald James William Elgin, born on December 19, 1975, is an amazing Australian Paralympic athlete. He competes in track and field events. Don has won four medals at three different Paralympic Games, showing incredible skill and determination.
Contents
About Don Elgin
Don Elgin was born in Donald, Victoria. He was born without a left leg and a left thumb. He also had small toes and webbed fingers. His left foot was removed soon after he was born. When he was three, he had heart surgery.
Growing Up and Family Life
Don grew up in Tocumwal, New South Wales. As a teenager, he loved competing in athletics and swimming. Today, he lives in Melbourne with his wife and their four children. He has three daughters and one son.
Helping Other Athletes
Don is the founder and managing director of StarAmp Global. This company helps manage and support Paralympic athletes. He also travels around Australia and the world. He works as a motivational speaker, inspiring many people.
Don's Sports Journey
Don Elgin started competing in sports for people with disabilities in 1990. His first big international competition was in 1994. This was the IPC Athletics World Championships in Berlin. There, he won a gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay. He also earned a bronze medal in the high jump.
Early Paralympic Games
Don competed at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics. He did not win any medals there. In 1998, he placed fourth in the pentathlon. This was at the IPC Athletics World Championships in Birmingham.
Sydney and Athens Success
At the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, Don won a bronze medal. This was in the Men's Pentathlon P44 event. He continued his success at the 2002 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lille. There, he won two silver medals. These were for the pentathlon and the 4x400 meter relay. He also got a bronze medal in the 4x100 meter relay.
His best Paralympic performance was at the 2004 Athens Paralympics. Don won a silver medal in the Men's 4x400 meter T42–46 event. He also earned two bronze medals. These were for the Men's 4x100 meter T42–46 and the Men's Pentathlon P44 events.
Later Career and Comeback
In 2006, Don came sixth in the pentathlon at the IPC Athletics World Championships. He was also the Australian flag-bearer at the opening ceremony. That same year, he worked as a commentator for the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.
Don retired from para-athletics in 2008. However, he made a comeback in 2013. He learned that his sport would be part of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. At those games, he finished eighth in the Men's Discus Throw F42/44.
Coaching and Support
Throughout his career, Don was coached by several people. These included Roy Boyd, Cath Woodruff, John Eden, De Jennings, and Peter Negropontis. He also received a scholarship from the Victorian Institute of Sport for 12 years. Today, Don is the team manager for the Australian Paralympic Athletics Team.
Awards and Recognition
In 2000, Don Elgin received an Australian Sports Medal. This award was for his "service to amputee sport." It especially recognized his work in helping young athletes develop. In November 2018, he was honored again. He received the Victorian Institute of Sport Frank Pyke Achievement Award.
Images for kids
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Australian athlete Don Elgin receives support from an official at the completion of one of the events in the pentathlon at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games
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Close up of Elgin looking upwards during track competition at the 2000 Summer Paralympics
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Elgin competing in the pentathlon at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games
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Elgin throwing the shot put at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics
See also
In Spanish: Don Elgin para niños
