Duane Paul Kale ONZM (born 1 September 1967) is a New Zealand Paralympic swimmer.

Duane Kale
Duane Kale in outdoor urban setting in wheelchair
Kale in 2022
Personal information
Full nameDuane Paul Kale
Born1 September 1967 (1967-09) (age 56)
Medal record
Men's para swimming
Representing  New Zealand
Paralympic Games
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 50 m butterfly S6
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 100 m freestyle S6
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 200 m freestyle S6
Gold medal – first place 1996 Atlanta 200 m medley SM6
Silver medal – second place 1996 Atlanta 50 m freestyle S6
Bronze medal – third place 1996 Atlanta 100 m backstroke S6

Paralympic results edit

Duane Kale won four gold medals, along with a silver and a bronze, at the 1996 Summer Paralympics. This remains the most successful medal haul of any New Zealander in a single Paralympics or Olympics. He competed in the S6 sports class.

Kale as Chef de Mission edit

Kale retired as an athlete after Atlanta 1996, but went on to be Team Manager at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games. He was named Chef de Mission for the New Zealand Paralympic Team at the 2008 and 2012 Summer Paralympics.[1][2]

Awards and honours edit

In the 1997 New Year Honours, Kale was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to swimming.[3]

Services to the Paralympic Movement internationally edit

In November 2013, he was elected to the International Paralympic Committee Governing Board.[4] He was elected Vice President in 2017 and reelected to the position in 2021 for a further 4 year term.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ "Kale to be Paralympics chief". The Wellingtonian. 8 October 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Paralympians eager to haul in medals". The Press. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  3. ^ "New Year honours list 1997". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 1996. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  4. ^ "NZ Paralympian elected to IPC Governing Board". Voxy.co.nz. 25 November 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2016.
  5. ^ Cardwell, Sue (13 December 2021). "New Zealand Paralympian #96 Duane Kale re-elected Vice President of the International Paralympic Committee". Paralympics New Zealand. Retrieved 22 March 2023.

External links edit