Peter Kirby (Wiradjuri)

Event

• Multiple Para Events

Achievements

• 1984 Paralympian

  • 4x100m Relay A4-9, Gold (a world record at the time)

  • 4x400m Relay, Silver

  • 100m A6, Bronze (12.08), 400m A4-9 (53.26) and Long Jump (6.14m)

Biography

Losing a forearm as a young teenager did not stop Peter Kirkby from becoming one of Australia’s most successful para-athletes ever in 1984. A talented sportsperson as a child, Kirkby was 13 when he was badly electrocuted by a fallen power line at the Eden football oval in NSW. He suffered extensive burns to his right arm was amputated below the elbow.

In 1984, Kirkby made the trip to New York for the Summer Paralympics to compete in the 100m, 400m, 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, long jump, high jump, and triple jump. Kirkby walked away from New York has won one gold medal (4x100m), one silver (4x400m), and three bronze (100m, 400m, long jump), including a world record in the 4x100m.

"It was amazing to go to New York. For a little country boy, it was so exciting to see all these different people. I'd never seen so many people before," Kirby told the ABC.

Peter was quoted saying this to SBS on why the relay was his favourite event at New York - "I ran first for the relay selections, I passed it on to a guy with no leg who then passed it on to my mate with one arm and then he passed it on to another guy who had an amputation just above his knee. We won gold for that and made a record time."