Hometown Hincksman Shattering Barriers | Australian All Schools Championships

Diagnosed with a brain injury at birth, it was no certainty that Angus Hincksman would walk in his life. The 17-year-old now prepares to become only the third Australian with cerebral palsy to break four-minutes over 1500m at this weekend’s Australian All Schools Championships - a golden vision fostered by a platinum attitude.

Having previously only watched him race, Hincksman’s character is quick to match his talent. The South Australian speaks confidently and displays exemplary manners, holding no reservations in sharing his story.

“The doctors prepare you for the worst when you have a kid with cerebral palsy, they let you know all the things that come along with it. It’s always something that parents aren’t really ready for, they don’t expect to have a kid who might have a disability – it’s not something they would consider,” Hincksman says.

“It’s not necessarily that your kid is going to be different, you have to treat them like every other person – they might just have to overcome a few more obstacles than normal.”

Putting years of seizures, physiotherapy and doctor’s appointments behind him and parents Stuart and Natalie, Hincksman has emerged as one of Australia’s most exciting para athletics prospects, albeit quietly as his most significant progress came during the pandemic.

At the 2022 Australian Track and Field Championships, the budding talent coached by Simon Moran clinched silver when defeating Paralympic duo Deon Kenzie and Daniel Bounty – going straight past his idol Kenzie in the home straight.

“I’ve always looked up to Deon Kenzie, he was pretty much the first Australian to pave the way for the middle-distance guys in the T38 category, along with watching Cliffy [Jaryd Clifford] run in the able-bodied races,” Hincksman says.

“It’s pretty easy being the underdog, I just went out there and ran with no pressure.”

Hincksman’s inception in athletics came through his bid to make the cross country team with his friends at Tatachilla Lutheran College, with Novita encouraging him to explore the avenue of para athletics. Within a week, Hincksman was classified and in his own words soon became “addicted to winning” – although not yet done with racing against able-bodied competitors.

“At the Australian All Schools Championships I am racing the able-bodied 1500m where I want to break four-minutes, that has been a big goal of mine. I also chucked myself in the 800m Para race because I want to run with those boys,” Hincksman says.

Having already clocked a swift 4:03.92 at the South Australian All Schools Championships, Hincksman has since put in a solid stint of altitude training at Mount Perisher, conceding that he is beginning to up his training schedule from “50km a week and a game of golf”. The middle-distance man has also received a boost in the form of a Tier 2 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship, as the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris become a very real possibility.

“We’ve got training schedules and schooling planned around the best-case scenario which is making the team. My main goal for now is the World Championships and if that goes well then we will look to the Paralympics,” Hincksman says.

The accomplished teenager possesses undeniable talent and a resolute vision, but it is his love for athletics that may prove his greatest asset as he continues to develop and target longevity in the sport.

“I just love the Para scene! You meet so many people with crazy stories and you can really inspire yourself to be like them. You can go from just an everyday person with a disability to athletics which is a great pathway to overcome challenges and do the best for yourself with what can be a tough situation at times,” Hincksman says.

“I want to inspire other people to do the best with what they’ve got.”

The Australian All Schools Championships run in Adelaide from December 9-11, with tickets available to be purchased HERE.

By Lachlan Moorhouse, Athletics Australia
Posted: 06/02/2022