Gregory John Hammond , OAM[1] (born 10 May 1967) is an Australian Paralympic swimmer who also competed at an international level in sailing and volleyball.
 2000 Australian Paralympic team portrait of Hammond | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Gregory John Hammond | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality |  Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 10 May 1967 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Personal edit
Hammond was born on 10 May 1967 in Sydney, with a shortened right forearm.[2][3] While growing up around Manly, one of his favourite sports was sailing.[3] As of 2000, he had two children, and was working as a mechanical engineer.[3]
Career edit
At the 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Paralympics, Hammond won three gold medals in the Men's 100 m Breaststroke A8, Men's 100 m Freestyle A8, and Men's 4x100 m Medley Relay A1–A9 events, and three silver medals in the Men's 100 m Butterfly A8, Men's 200 m Individual Medley A8, and Men's 4x100 m Freestyle Relay A1–A9 events.[3][4][5] At the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, he won two gold medals in the Men's 100 m Breaststroke A8 and Men's 100 m Freestyle A8 events, and a silver medal in the Men's 4x50 m Freestyle Relay A1–A8 event.[3][4][6] During his swimming career, he was coached by Peter Ryan and Harry Gallagher.[7]
He gave up swimming after the 1988 Summer Paralympics because he had achieved all his goals in that sport, and concentrated on sailing. He was part of a Sonar team that was aiming to participate in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, but it did not qualify because it came ninth in a pre-games regatta in Florida.[3] His crew then prepared to sail at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, but in November 1999, one of the members quit due to business reasons.[3] An old friend then invited him to participate in the volleyball campaign, and he became part of the men's "standing" team, where his height of 1.96 metres (6 ft 5 in) gave him a distinct advantage.[3][4]
Recognition edit
In 2007, Hammond was inducted into the Northern Beaches Sporting Hall of Fame.[8] In 2010, he received a Medal of the Order of Australia "For service to sport, particularly through achievements as a paralympian".[1]
References edit
- ^ a b "Hammond, Gregory John". It's an Honour. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
- ^ "Athlete's Profile". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 5 December 2000. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Derriman, Philip (15 October 2000). "Done The Swimming, Now For The Volleyball". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ a b c "Athlete Search Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "1984 Summer Paralympics Australian Swimming Medallists: Men". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "1988 Summer Paralympics Australian Swimming Silver Medallists: Men". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
- ^ "Paralympics Profiles – Greg Hammond". International Swimmer. 25: 10. December 1988.
- ^ "Northern Beaches Sporting Hall of Fame". Pittwater Council. Retrieved 3 March 2012.