Jaryd Clifford

• Age: 25
• Degree: Bachelor of Arts alum
• Sport: Para Athletics
• Event/Category: Para-athletics 1500m and 5000m
• Olympic history: Rio 2016; Tokyo 2020 (Silver in Men's 5000m T13 and Men's Marathon T12; Bronze in Men's 1500 m T13)

Jaryd has always loved running. But when he was in middle school, he started losing his eyesight due to juvenile macular degeneration. Not one to give up what he loves, he continued with middle-distance running and competed against able-bodied athletes in junior competitions. In fact, he became the first Australian Paralympian to compete at an able-bodied world championship at the Athletics U20 World Championships in 2018.

Jaryd is a World Para Champion, having won gold medals in the Men's 1500m and 5000m T13 events at the 2019 World Para Athletics. He made his Paralympics debut at Rio, and in Tokyo, he was on the podium for all his three events – silver medals in the Men's 5000m T13 and Men's Marathon T12 and bronze in the Men's 1500 m T13.

While the last year has been marred by injury struggles, Jaryd is going to Paris with the aim to fulfil his biggest goal – to be a Paralympic gold medallist! As his guides on the track, Jaryd will have the company of his best friend Tim Logan and Matthew Clarke.