View source for Ben Austin

{{Short description|Australian Paralympic swimmer}}
{{other people}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2011}}
{{Infobox swimmer|
| name           = Ben Austin
| image          = 221000 - Swimming 200m medley SM8 Ben Austin silver waves - 3b - 2000 Sydney event photo.jpg
| imagesize      = 
| caption        = Austin waves to the crowd as he celebrates his silver medal win in the 200&nbsp;m medley SM8 event at the 2000 Summer Paralympics
| fullname       = Benjamin James Austin
| nicknames      = 
| nationality    = {{AUS}}
| classification = [[S8 (classification)|S8, SB7, SM8]]
| strokes        = [[Freestyle swimming|Freestyle]], [[Medley swimming|medley]], [[Butterfly stroke|butterfly]]
| club           = 
| coach          = 
| collegeteam    = 
| birth_date     = {{birth date and age|1980|11|7|df=yes}} 
| birth_place    = [[Wellington, New South Wales|Wellington]], [[New South Wales]], Australia
| death_date     = 
| death_place    = 
| height         = {{convert|1.87|m|ftin|abbr=on}}
| weight         = {{convert|83|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
| medaltemplates = 
{{MedalSport | Men's [[Paralympic swimming]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{AUS}} }}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Summer Paralympics|Paralympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Paralympics|2004 Athens]] | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Paralympics – Men's 100 metre freestyle S8|100 m freestyle S8]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2004 Athens | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Paralympics – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay 34pts|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Paralympics|2008 Beijing]] | [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Paralympics – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay – 34 points|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalSilver | [[Swimming at the 2000 Summer Paralympics|2000 Sydney]] | [[Swimming at the 2000 Summer Paralympics – Men's 200 metre individual medley SM8|200 m medley SM8]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2000 Sydney | [[Swimming at the 2000 Summer Paralympics – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay 34pts|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2004 Athens | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Paralympics – Men's 100 metre butterfly S8|100 m butterfly S8]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2004 Athens | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Paralympics – Men's 200 metre individual medley SM8|200 m medley SM8]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2004 Athens | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Paralympics – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay 34pts|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalSilver | 2008 Beijing | [[Swimming at the 2008 Summer Paralympics – Men's 4 × 100 metre freestyle relay – 34 points|4×100 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2000 Sydney | [[Swimming at the 2000 Summer Paralympics – Men's 100 metre butterfly S8|100 m butterfly S8]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2000 Sydney | [[Swimming at the 2000 Summer Paralympics – Men's 4 × 100 metre medley relay 34pts|4×100 m medley]]}}
{{MedalBronze | 2004 Athens | [[Swimming at the 2004 Summer Paralympics – Men's 50 metre freestyle S8|50 m freestyle S8]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[IPC Swimming World Championships]]}}
{{MedalBronze|2002 Mar del Plata|Men's 50{{space}}m Freestyle S8}}
{{MedalBronze|2002 Mar del Plata|Men's 100{{space}}m Freestyle S8}}
{{MedalSilver|2002 Mar del Plata|Men's 100{{space}}m Freestyle Relay 34 pts}}
{{MedalGold | 2006 Durban | 4×100 m medley 34 pts}}
{{MedalSilver | 2006 Durban | 4×100 m freestyle 34 pts}}
{{MedalBronze | 2006 Durban | 100 m butterfly S8}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[Swimming at the Commonwealth Games|Commonwealth Games]]}}
{{MedalGold | {{nowrap|[[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Manchester]]}} | [[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Men's EAD 50 metre freestyle|EAD 50 m freestyle]]}}
{{MedalGold | 2002 Manchester | {{nowrap|[[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games – Men's EAD 100 metre freestyle|EAD 100 m freestyle]]}}}}
{{MedalGold | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games|2010 Delhi]] | [[Swimming at the 2010 Commonwealth Games – Men's 100 metre freestyle S8|100 m freestyle S8]]}}
}}

'''Benjamin James Austin''',  {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OAM}}<ref name="oam">{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1057741|title=Austin, Benjamin James, OAM|publisher=It's an Honour|accessdate=2 February 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018133753/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1057741|archive-date=18 October 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>  (born 7 November 1980) is an Australian [[Disability sports|Elite Athlete with a Disability]] (EAD) swimmer. His classification is [[S8 (classification)|S8 (above elbow amputee)]].

==Early life==
Austin was born on 7 November 1980<ref name=APC-bio>{{cite web|title=Ben Austin|publisher=Australian Paralympic Committee|accessdate=18 November 2011|url=http://www.paralympic.org.au/team/ben-austin|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317184342/http://paralympic.org.au/team/ben-austin|archivedate=17 March 2012}}</ref> in the New South Wales town of [[Wellington, New South Wales|Wellington]].<ref name=swim-au>{{cite web|url=http://swimming.org.au/profiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=profile&ProfileID=1116306|accessdate=18 November 2011|publisher=Swimming Australia|location=Australia|title=Ben Austin|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015022119/http://swimming.org.au/profiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=Profile&ProfileID=1116306|archivedate=15 October 2011}}</ref> He is Aboriginal via his maternal grandmother. When he was a few weeks old, doctors amputated his left arm above the elbow due to birth-related complications. Outside of swimming, he plays [[rugby league]], [[rugby union]], [[water polo]]<ref name=APC-bio/> and [[basketball]].<ref name=swim-au/> He is a university student, working on a degree that will allow him to become an English as a Second Language teacher.<ref name=APC-bio/> He is also studying [[kinesiology]].<ref name=swim-au/> He currently resides in [[Sydney, Australia]].<ref name=swim-au/> He is {{convert|187|cm|ftin}} tall and weighs {{convert|83|kg}}.<ref name=swim-au/> He has four sisters.<ref name=vibe-mag>{{cite news|url=http://www.vibe.com.au/index.php?view=items&cid=145%3Adeadly-vibe-archive&id=3374%3Aben-austin&pop=1&tmpl=component&print=1&option=com_flexicontent|work=Vibe Magazine|accessdate=18 November 2011|issue=Deadly Vibe Issue 92|date=October 2004|title=Ben Austin}}</ref>

==Swimming==
[[File:211000 - Swimming 200m medley SM8 Ben Austin silver action - 3b - 2000 Sydney event photo.jpg|thumb|left|Austin swims his way to silver in the 200&nbsp;m medley SM8 at the 2000 Summer Paralympics]]

Austin started swimming at five years of age,<ref name="vibe-mag" /> and began swimming competitively in 1996. He  represented Australia for the first time in 1999.<ref name=APC-bio/>  While he is primarily known for being a Paralympic swimmer, he also competed in abled bodied swimming.<ref name=APC-bio/> He swims for [[Warringah Aquatic]] and is coached by Ben Davies.<ref name=swim-au/> In 2008, he was coached by [[Graeme Carroll]].<ref name=carol-smh>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/sport/one-for-the-purists/2008/09/06/1220121590746.html|accessdate=18 November 2011|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|location=Sydney, New South Wales|title=One for the purists|date=7 September 2008}}</ref> He was an [[Australian Institute of Sport]] scholarship holder.<ref name="vibe-mag"/>

He has competed at the [[2000 Summer Paralympics]], the [[2004 Summer Paralympics]] and the [[2008 Summer Paralympics]].<ref name=APC-bio/> At the 2000 Games, he won a silver medal in the 200&nbsp;m individual medley, and two bronze medals in the 100&nbsp;m butterfly and 4x100&nbsp;m medley relay events.<ref name=swim-au/> He went into the Sydney 2000 Games ranked number one for the 200m individual medley and held top 5 rankings in both the 100m and 50m freestyle and butterfly events.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.halogen.org.au/speaker.php?speakerid=71|title=Halogen|website=halogen.org.au|access-date=8 September 2017}}</ref> At the 2004 Games, he won two gold medals in the 100&nbsp;m freestyle and 4×100&nbsp;m medley events, for which he received a [[Order of Australia|Medal of the Order of Australia]],<ref name="oam"/> three silver medals in the 100&nbsp;m butterfly, 200&nbsp;m individual medley, and 4×100&nbsp;m freestyle relay events, and a bronze medal in the 4x100&nbsp;m freestyle relay.<ref name=swim-au/><ref name=IPC>{{cite web|url=http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/search.php?sport=all&games=all&medal=all&npc=aus&name=Austin&fname=&gender=m|title=Athlete Search Results|publisher=[[International Paralympic Committee]]|accessdate=19 April 2012|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304041822/http://www.paralympic.org/ipc_results/search.php?sport=all&games=all&medal=all&npc=aus&name=Austin&fname=&gender=m|url-status=dead}}</ref> He set two world records at the 2004 Paralympic Games in the 100&nbsp;m freestyle and 100&nbsp;m butterfly events.<ref name=APC-bio/> At the 2008 Games, he won a gold medal in the Men's 4x100&nbsp;m Medley 34 pts relay and a silver medal in the 4x100&nbsp;m freestyle relay.<ref name="IPC"/><ref name=swim-au/> He finished in fifth place in the 100&nbsp;m butterfly event, and fourth in the 100&nbsp;m freestyle event.<ref name=swim-au/>

He competed at the [[IPC Swimming World Championships]] in 2002 and 2006.<ref name="swim-au"/> At the 2008 Australian Championships, he set a personal best time in the 100&nbsp;m Freestyle event with a time of 0:59.08.<ref name=swim-au/>

Austin became a pioneer of Australian swimming and he did this by bridging the gap of respect, recognition and equality to the Paralympic swimming movement in Australia, through his inspiring achievements and growing public profile.<ref name=":0" />

Ben became the first Paralympic Telstra Dolphins Ambassador and also the first Paralympic ambassador for Austswim.<ref name=":0" />

===2002 Manchester Commonwealth Games===
Austin set two world records at the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]].<ref name=APC-bio/>
{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="empty-cells:show; width:400px; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:0,5em; background:#f8f8ff;"
! align="center" bgcolor="d2d2ff" | Heats
! align="center" bgcolor="d2d2ff" | Finals
|----- bgcolor="#f8f8ff" valign="top"
|
*[[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games - Men's 50&nbsp;m EAD Freestyle|50&nbsp;m EAD freestyle]]
**27.48 (WR) - 1st
*[[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games - Men's 100&nbsp;m EAD Freestyle|100&nbsp;m EAD freestyle]]
**1:00.27 (WR) - 1st
|
*[[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games - Men's 50&nbsp;m EAD Freestyle|50&nbsp;m EAD freestyle]]
**27.59 - 1st
*[[Swimming at the 2002 Commonwealth Games - Men's 100&nbsp;m EAD Freestyle|100&nbsp;m EAD freestyle]]
**1:00.21 (WR) - 1st
|}

===2006 Melbourne Commonwealth Games===
Austin set six world records at the [[2006 Commonwealth Games]].<ref name=APC-bio/>

{| border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1" style="empty-cells:show; width:400px; margin-left:1em; margin-bottom:0,5em; background:#f8f8ff;"
! align="center" bgcolor="d2d2ff" | Heats
! align="center" bgcolor="d2d2ff" | Finals
|----- bgcolor="#f8f8ff" valign="top"
|
*[[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50&nbsp;metres EAD freestyle|50&nbsp;m EAD freestyle]]
**27.78 - 3rd
*[[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's 100&nbsp;metres EAD freestyle|100&nbsp;m EAD freestyle]]
**1:00.21 - 2nd
|
*[[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's 50&nbsp;metres EAD freestyle|50&nbsp;m EAD freestyle]]
**28.03 - 6th
*[[Swimming at the 2006 Commonwealth Games – Men's 100&nbsp;metres EAD freestyle|100&nbsp;m EAD freestyle]]
**1:00.50 - 4th
|}

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Ben Austin}}
* {{IPC profile|id=ben-austin}}
* {{CGA profile|ben-austin}}
* {{CGF profile}}
* {{2006 Commonwealth Games profile}}
* {{2010 Commonwealth Games profile|442858}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Austin, Ben}}
[[Category:1980 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Sportsmen from New South Wales]]
[[Category:Australian amputees]]
[[Category:Male Paralympic swimmers for Australia]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2000 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2006 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Swimmers at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2000 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2004 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Paralympics]]
[[Category:Paralympic gold medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Paralympic silver medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games swimmers for Australia]]
[[Category:Commonwealth Games gold medallists in swimming]]
[[Category:Amputee-category Paralympic competitors]]
[[Category:World record holders in paralympic swimming]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Medal of the Order of Australia]]
[[Category:Australian Institute of Sport Paralympic swimmers]]
[[Category:Indigenous Australian Paralympians]]
[[Category:S8-classified para swimmers]]
[[Category:Paralympic medalists in swimming]]
[[Category:Australian male freestyle swimmers]]
[[Category:Australian male breaststroke swimmers]]
[[Category:Australian male medley swimmers]]
[[Category:Medallists at the 2010 Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Wellington, New South Wales]]
[[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]]