Karl Feifar facts for kids
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Karl Peter Thomas Feifar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality |  Australia |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 5 January 1973 Subiaco, Western Australia |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 29 May 2009 (aged 36) Orelia, Western Australia |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Medal record
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Karl Peter Thomas Feifar (born January 5, 1973 – died May 29, 2009) was an amazing Australian athlete. He was an Indigenous Australian who competed in the Paralympic Games. Karl was an amputee, meaning he had a limb removed, but he didn't let that stop him from becoming a champion. He even received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his achievements.
Contents
Early Life and Inspiration
Karl Feifar was born in 1973 in Subiaco, a suburb of Perth. His parents were Wendy and Peter. Karl's foot was amputated right after he was born because it was deformed.
His parents always encouraged him to play sports. Karl once said, Even as a kid, if I fell down, my mother would tell me to pick myself up and keep going. My parents gave me the positive will to succeed. This positive attitude helped him a lot.
Even though he had a below-knee amputation, Karl played Australian football. He played for the Central Club in Jarrahdale. He also loved to swim and compete in athletics. He used a special prosthetic leg to help him. Later in life, Karl worked as a driver for Australia Post. He had a partner named Kathleen and a daughter.
A Champion's Journey
Karl Feifar showed his incredible talent from a young age. He started making a name for himself in sports.
First Big Wins
In 1988, Karl competed in the Pan Pacific School Games in Sydney. He did incredibly well, winning three gold medals and one bronze medal. This was just the beginning of his success.
Two years later, in 1990, Karl set a world record. He also set four Australian records at the Australian Amputee Games. These achievements showed how dedicated and skilled he was.
World Championships Success
Later in 1990, Karl went to the World Championships and Games for the Disabled. These games were held in Assen, Netherlands. He had an amazing performance there. Karl won five gold medals and two silver medals. He even broke two world records in the long jump and pentathlon events.
After these championships, Karl received a special scholarship. It was for the new Athletes with a Disabilities program at the Australian Institute of Sport. There, he was coached by Chris Nunn, who helped him become even better.
Paralympic Glory
Karl's biggest moment came at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympic Games. He proudly represented Australia. At these games, he won a gold medal in the Men's 4 × 100 m Relay TS2,4 event. He also earned a silver medal in the Men's Long Jump J2 event. These medals were a huge achievement for Karl and for Australia.
In 1993, Karl decided to retire from competing. His coach, Chris Nunn, said that Karl was "extremely talented." He also mentioned that Karl didn't reach his full potential because he retired early.
Legacy and Recognition
Karl Feifar passed away on May 29, 2009. He is remembered as a remarkable athlete who inspired many.
He received several important recognitions for his contributions to sport:
- He was a member of the Aboriginal and Islander Sports Hall of Fame.
- In 1990, he was named Young Aboriginal Athlete of the Year.
- In 1991, he received the National Sportsman of the Year award. This was at the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sports Awards.
- In 1992, after winning his gold medal at the Paralympics, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. This is a very high honor in Australia.
Karl Feifar's story shows that with determination and a positive attitude, you can achieve great things, no matter the challenges you face.
