Deon Kenzie

EVENTS:  Men's 1500m T38

AGE:  27 (DOB 11 Mar 1996)

COACH:  Philo Saunders

ATHLETICS CLUB: North West (Tas)

PARALYMPIC HISTORY: Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020

PERSONAL BESTS: 3:55.09 (March 2021)

BIOGRAPHY

Breaking a world record in your home state of Tasmania will get the attention of the rest of the country – and in particular Paralympic Games selectors.

Deon did just that in the 1500m T38 in 2014 with a 4:08.51, which was more than five seconds faster than what he ran claiming Bronze for the event at the 2013 World Para Athletics Championships in Lyon.

Since his Australian team debut in 2013 Deon has been a fixture in the National team, making every Global team since, including two Paralympics and four world championships. But more than just compete at these six meets, he has finished on the podium at every competition, including gold in 1500m at the 2017 at the World Para Athletics Championships. In June 2023 he was named in a fifth consecutive World Para Athletics Championships team.  

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Growing up in Tasmania, Deon would run laps around the paddocks of the family property and run road sprints in the middle of winter with his dad following behind in the car.

From the age of 17, when he made his international debut for Australia, he had success. 
It started with 1500m bronze medal winning performances at both in 2013 and 2015 World Para Athletics Championships. He went a step higher on the podium claiming silver in the 1500m at the Rio Paralympics. In London in 2017 at the world championships, Deon opened his account with silver in the 800m, before a breakthrough gold medal in the 1500m (4:06.68) a couple of days later.

He made a valiant attempt to defend his world title with a 4:08.49 to take bronze at the 2019 World Championships in Dubai.

Mid COVID pandemic, in February 2021 Deon managed to break the elusive two-minute barrier for 800m, running 1:59.83 to set a new personal best in a strong showing of early-season form. It was the start of a career purple patch, where he also broke four minutes in the 1500m in three consecutive races in March 2021 – 3:59.79, 3:58.43 and 3:55.09.
In Tokyo, at his Paralympics, he was again on the podium, winning bronze in the 1500m.

In June 2023 he was named in a fifth consecutive World Para Athletics Championships team.  

Off the track Deon has an avid interest in AFL with his cousins Jade and Brady Rawlings starring as players-coaches-administrators in the code with clubs including North Melbourne, Hawthorn, and the Western Bulldogs.

@ 22 Jun 2023 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au