Australia at the 1964 Summer Paralympics

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Australia at the 1964 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo

- When and where: Tokyo, 8–12 November 1964. The second Paralympics, also called the 13th Stoke Mandeville Games.
- Australia’s result: 30 medals (12 gold, 11 silver, 7 bronze), finishing 4th behind the USA, Great Britain and Italy. They competed in 6 of the 9 sports, with most medals won in swimming.
- The team: 15 athletes and about 10 staff traveled from Sydney. Key leaders included Dr. George Bedbrook (team leader/doctor) and Johnno Johnston (manager).
- Notable medalists: Elizabeth Edmondson, aged 14, won three golds in swimming with world records. Daphne Ceeney won bronze and earned medals in other events. Vic Renalson won silver in weightlifting. Roy Fowler and Michael Dow won multiple swimming medals, including golds. Gary Hooper won gold in the Men’s Wheelchair Dash; Australia also won silver in the Men’s Wheelchair Relay. Frank Ponta and Daphne Ceeney earned medals in fencing.
- Pre-Games: Some Australian athletes had competed in the 1962 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games (Perth) and the Third National Paraplegic Games (Adelaide) to qualify.
- Venues and ceremonies: The games used seven venues. The opening ceremony was on November 8 with 375 athletes and 144 events across 9 sports; the closing ceremony was on November 12 with speeches and prizes.
- Challenges: The first day was unusually cold, affecting throwing events, and the four-and-a-half-day schedule made competition busy.
- Miscellaneous: There was no Paralympic flame or mascot, and Australia did not field a wheelchair basketball team. The Australian team praised the event for its organization and the growing legitimacy of disability sport.