Warren Lawton facts for kids
Warren Lawton saves a penalty shot during a goalball game for Australia against Sweden at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics.
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| Nationality |  Australia |
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| Born | 23 March 1966 Augathella, Queensland |
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Medal record
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Warren Lawton was born on 23 March 1966. He is an Indigenous Australian athlete who has competed in two different sports at the Paralympic Games. Warren has a visual impairment, meaning he cannot see clearly. He is known for his skills in both athletics and goalball.
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Warren's Early Sporting Days
Warren Lawton was born in Augathella, Queensland. He has had a visual impairment since he was born. He started his journey as a Paralympic athlete in track and field events.
Paralympic Athletics Achievements
Warren first competed at the Paralympic Games in 1984. These games were held in New York, USA. He took part in three different athletics events. He won a bronze medal in the Men's High Jump B3 event. This was a great achievement for him!
Two years later, in 1986, Warren won another bronze medal. This was at the World Championships for the Disabled. This competition took place in Gothenburg, Sweden. He continued his athletics career, competing in two more events at the 1988 Summer Paralympics in Seoul, South Korea.
Becoming a Goalball Star
After his athletics career, Warren Lawton switched to a new sport: goalball. Goalball is a team sport designed for athletes with visual impairments. Players try to throw a ball with bells inside into the opponent's goal.
Playing for Australia
Warren became an important member of the Australia men's national goalball team. He represented Australia at three more Paralympic Games:
- The 1992 Summer Paralympics in Barcelona, Spain.
- The 1996 Summer Paralympics in Atlanta, USA.
- The 2000 Summer Paralympics in Sydney, Australia.
Warren was known for his incredibly fast throws. His goalball throws were so powerful that they were measured by police radar! They reached speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour (about 50 miles per hour). This made him one of the fastest goalball throwers in the world.
Life After Competing
After the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, Warren decided to share his knowledge. He started coaching other athletes. This allowed him to help new generations of sports stars.
Awards and Recognition
Warren Lawton has received special awards for his amazing sports career.
- In 1986, he was named the NAIDOC Aboriginal Sportsman of the Year. NAIDOC stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee.
- In 2001, he received another NAIDOC award. This time, he was named the NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year.
These awards celebrate his achievements and his contributions to sports.
