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September 16, 2016

Paralympian alumni shoots for glory

Tristan Knowles was just nine years old when he had his leg amputated above the knee.

The UOW alumni decided that his sporting dreams were far from over and began playing wheelchair basketball at the age of 15.

Twenty-four years on from the aggressive bone cancer that claimed his left leg and part of his lung, Tristan is representing Australia at the 2016 Rio Paralympics.

“There is no shortcut to any place worth going,” Tristan was once quoted as saying.

“Basically if you want to achieve anything worthwhile, there’s going to be a whole lot of hard work and sacrifice involved.”

Tristan’s accolades include New South Wales Wheelchair Basketballer of the Year (2002), the Medal of the Order of Australia for services to sport (awarded 2009), a collection of silver and gold medals at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Paralympics and is representing Australia once again at the 2016 Rio Paralympics. Tristan also appeared on the Dean’s Merit List during his time at UOW and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce in 2006.

UOW would like to wish Tristan and all of our other athletes good luck in Rio.