Don Elgin is a transtibial amputee. From 1994 to 2004, Don represented Australia at three Paralympics and three International Paralympic Committee World Championships.
He also competed in Discus at the 2014 Commonwealth Games held in Scotland. 

In the system used for classifying athletes in disabled sports, Don competed in the T44 Amputee (single below-knee amputee) class. Born with a stump below his left knee, his fingers webbed together and no thumb on his left hand, he was encouraged by his parents to be active and pursue his inclination to sporting excellence.

The child's prosthetic leg he donated to Museums Victoria is emblematic of the fact that Don was born disabled. The 1993 prosthesis is part of the story of his entry into the world of elite competition, while the legs he wore in Atlanta and Athens mark his struggle to be the best in the world.

At Atlanta, Don placed fourth and at Athens he won the bronze medal for the second consecutive Paralympics. He also placed third in the Pentathlon at the 2000 Paralympics in Sydney.

Don's story demonstrates his drive to achieve at the highest level, and his refusal to accept that his disability might restrict his ability to do so.

Don won a silver medal for the Pentathlon at the 2002 International Paralympic Committee World Championships, his best individual result in an international competition. In 2014, he came out of retirement to compete in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, making the discus final and achieving a personal best.

Don has been involved in other sports-related areas too such as media, mentoring and sports management. He commentated at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and has held numerous pivotol roles, including presidency of the Sandringham Athletics Club and inaugural patron of Disability Professionals Victoria. 
Don Elgin remains a strong advocate for sports and disability.

More Information