Following on the success of the Rio Olympics where Australian engineers contributed four medals to our tally (one gold, two silver and one bronze), our Paralympians are now looking to take on the best in the world.
First to take part will be table tennis player Barak Mizrachi. He completed a degree in chemical engineering at the University of Melbourne in 2012 and now works in the gas industry with SAI Global.
Mizrachi has cerebral palsy which affects the right side of his body. He will be competing in the Class 8 competition with his first game on Thursday evening at 8pm (AEST) against Chinese player Ye Chaoqun. The medal matches for Class 8 won't take place until Tuesday next week
The first Australian engineer with a chance to win a medal will be Alexandra Lisney in the C4 individual pursuit cycling. Born with cerebral palsy, Lisney studied mechanical and manufacturing engineering at the University of NSW although after graduation, she got a job as a structural engineer with Taylor Consulting Engineers in Sydney.
Lisney won a bronze medal in the individual pursuit at the London Paralympics four years ago and is hoping to improve on that result in Rio.
To reach her goal, she took time off work in the lead up to the Games to train in the Italian Alps.
“Training at altitude increases my red blood cells and therefore increases the oxygen that is carried in my blood,” Lisney said.
After Rio, she plans to give competitive cycling a break while she focuses on her career, in particular expanding her structural knowledge.
"Engineering is such a wonderful degree because it opens up such a world of opportunities after graduation," she said.
The qualifying rounds for her event will take place around 9.40pm (AEST) tomorrow evening (Thursday 8 July) with the medal rides taking place around 3.45am (AEST) the following morning.
Not competing until later in the Games is runner James Turner. Also born with cerebral palsy, Turner is currently studying mechanical engineering at the University of Wollongong. His event is the T36 800 m, the final of which won't take place until the final day of the Games, Sunday, September 18.
[Alex Lisney practising in Rio. Photo: UNSW via Twitter]
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