Cameron Crombie

EVENTS:   F38 Shot

AGE:  37 (DOB 14 Feb 1986)

COACH:  Hamish MacDonald

ATHLETICS CLUB: Gininderra

AUSTRALIAN DEBUT: 2017 World Para Athletics Champs

PERSONAL BESTS: Shot Put 15.95m (2017)

BIOGRAPHY

Cameron Crombie has been selected to compete at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships in Paris. He travels to the championships seeking a threepeat in the F38 shot, after winning the 2017 and 2019 titles. Ahead of the championships he has been in good form with a best of 15.72m during the last year.

Former national para-rowing champion, Cam Crombie, made his long-awaited debut for Australia in London. He was on target to make his rowing debut in 2015 at the world championships, but a lack of certainty regarding his classification resulted in this not occurring - "my dream of competing for Australia was shattered." But a collaboration between Rowing Australia and Athletics Australia, saw him move to athletics where he was classified F38 and linked up with Canberra throws coach and former Paralympic legend Hamish McDonald. 

In his first season, he nailed multiple shot put and javelin world championships qualifying performances. In his international para-athletics debut, at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships, he won gold and set a F38 shot put world record. His first put was a foul, but on his second attempt, he hit 15.95m, smashing the old record of 15.58m. "I'm a bit lost for words. This is fantastic; I couldn't have hoped for a better result. I wouldn't have dreamt it," said Crombie who won by 1.82m. He capped off the championships with fifth place in the javelin with a PB throw of 47.84m. 

The performance earned him automatic selection for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, where he won the shot with a mark of 15.74m. He had the honour of sharing the men’s shot put F38 podium with good friend and compatriot Marty Jackson, who won the silver medal.

In 2019 he was selected for his second world championships to be held in Dubai. This time the pressure was on has he arrived as the defending champion. He delivered, defending his F38 World shot put title.

Last month he was named in his third world championships team in the F38 shot. He is undefeated in the event on every occasion he has worn the green and gold - 2017 and 2019 world championships and 2018 Commonwealth Games. 

Post his sporting career he would like to move into a role where he can help and encourage kids to get involved with sport, at any level, but for now, he'll take the "athlete" side of it as far as he physically can before thinking about a "retirement plan". 

Most memorable moment: competing in front of a home crowd at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and hearing ‘Advance Australia Fair’ rang out over Carrara Stadium…Sporting relative: Great Grandfather, Gavin Russell, played soccer for Australia in 1930's…Other Sports: basketballer with the Newcastle Hunters and junior/school representative teams from 1994 to 2014…Education: Bachelor of Economics at the University of Newcastle…Author: written a book titled "Selling like a Specialist", which helps individual people sell houses… His impairment is hemiplegia (left side) because of a stroke during premature birth…Hobbies include playing any sport possible, playing the guitar, tinkering with motorbikes and cars…Occupation: volunteer firefighter in the ACT Rural Fire Service…1.97m tall he is the eldest of twin boys.

 @ 12 June 23 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au