“Our history goes back more than 140 years and through that time, many deaf people across the country played an important role in enabling sport to be a central part of Deaf community life.
Not only were they sport leaders or influential participants, but also sport administrators on all levels (local, state, national and international). Here, we are sharing some examples of deaf and hard of hearing Australians who have excelled on the sport field as well as in committee or management roles.
Cindy-Lu Bailey OAM
Swimming champion in Commonwealth Games, Australian Swim Championships and Deaflympics – this photo is from the 1985 World Games for the Deaf where she won 5 gold medals including the 200m individual medley. She still holds the record for the most medals won by a woman. Named in the top 100 sports women in NSW.
Cindy-Lu Bailey (Fitzpatrick) swim gold medallist, 1985 World Deaf Games, Los Angeles.
Dean Barton Smith, Olympian (Barcelona 1992), and Deaflympian