From Summer Champion to Winter Paralympian Hopeful
Newcastle's inspirational wheelchair athlete Lauren Parker has created sporting history, claiming an unprecedented sixth Athlete of the Year with a Disability honour at the NSW Champions of Sport Awards Ceremony on Monday night. The remarkable achievement wasn't celebrated in person though - Parker was thousands of kilometres away in Canada, pursuing qualification for next year's Winter Paralympics.
A Record-Breaking Sixth Honour
The 36-year-old Paralympian delivered her acceptance speech via video link from the snow-covered Canadian landscape where she's training for cross-country skiing and biathlon events. "Hey everyone, sorry I couldn't be there tonight, but I'm in Canada, a bit of a different scenery," Parker told the Sydney audience. "I'm in the snow. I'm about to compete in my first World Cup because I've started another challenge."
Parker's sixth victory in the disability athlete category surpasses the previous records held by wheelchair tennis great David Hall (five wins) and celebrated wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley (four wins). Her previous wins came in 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023 and 2024, demonstrating consistent excellence across multiple sports.
Dual Paralympian Eyes Winter Games
What makes Parker's latest achievement particularly extraordinary is her ongoing transition from summer to winter sports. Already an established champion in para-triathlon and para-cycling, the Newcastle local is now aiming to compete at the Winter Paralympics in Italy next March.
Parker claimed her fifth world title in para-triathlon in Wollongong on October 18 and dominated the world para-triathlon series, winning four out of five races. In para-cycling, she secured world championships in both the women's road race and time trial in her classification, plus a World Cup time trial gold medal.
The athlete's journey to becoming one of Australia's most decorated Paralympians began after a life-changing training accident near Raymond Terrace in 2017 that left her paralysed from the waist down. Rather than ending her sporting career, the incident marked the beginning of an extraordinary new chapter.
Parker expressed her pride in the latest recognition, stating: "I'm very honoured to receive this award tonight for the sixth time. I couldn't be more proud to have my achievements recognised." She also acknowledged fellow finalist Georgia Beikoff from Valentine, who was also in contention for the disability athlete honour.
As Parker continues her winter sports campaign in Canada, the Newcastle community watches with anticipation, supporting an athlete who continues to redefine what's possible in Paralympic sport.
