Jayden Sawyer (ACT)

Jayden Sawyer has displayed determination and passion for Paralympic throwing since beginning his career as a 13-year-old in 2006.

The cerebral palsy athlete competed against his able-bodied classmates until discovering Para-sport at an ACT Schools Carnival, where he decided to compete the following year. After dominating the field, Jayden went from strength to strength, culminating in his debut for Australia at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France. Exceeding all expectations, Jayden won bronze in the javelin and placed sixth in shot put.

Jayden credits these impressive results to seven-time Paralympian and long-time coach, Hamish MacDonald, whose career, he says, has been a source of inspiration.

At the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio, he placed fifth in the javelin, throwing 45.63m. He improved dramatically in 2017 at the London World Para Athletics Championships.

Arriving in London with a javelin PB of 48.55m he destroyed his best and the world record and the field. He opened with 49.17m and extended his best to 51.05m in round three. As he lined up for the last throw he already had secured the gold medal, but how could he finish the competition? The answer was a new world record of 52.96m, adding 58cm to the mark set by Mohammad Naeiminia (IRI) in May. In one competition Jayden had added 4.41m to his PB.

Over the summer of 2018, he switched his focus to the shot put which is on the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games program. He did have a good background in the shot, having competed in the event at the IPC 2013 World Championships. His transition was successful with numerous qualifying marks and eventual selection in the Australian team for the Commonwealth Games.

Away from training, Jayden enjoys spending time with his friends and watching comedies. His favourite quote is, ‘you only get out what you put in,’ and applies this directly to his athletics career and personal life.