Guy Henly

EVENTS:  Discus Throw F37

AGE:  36 (DOB 17 May 1987)

COACH:  Self coached

ATHLETICS CLUB: Glenhuntly

PARALYMPIC HISTORY: Rio 2016, Tokyo 2020

PERSONAL BESTS: 53.99m (2015)

BIOGRAPHY

Dual Paralympian, Guy Henly, has for a decade been on the National team and continues with his selection in the Australian team for the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships to be held in Paris in July. For Guy, it will be his fifth consecutive world championships team. He heads off to Europe in good form, with a season’s best of 51.71m on the board.

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Guy Henly’s journey in athletics started over a decade ago.
“It all started when I went to a talent search day back in late 2010 at Blacktown. I got in contact with the Australian throws coach at the AIS and after doing a clinic down there I was put in touch with Bre Clement and Karyne di Marco.

Guy could recall his first training session in 2010.
“I remember being overwhelmed at the other throwers that I was training/competing with, as they’d been throwing for a long time and were a lot more talented than me. I knew it was going to be a long road to get to a competitive level, but I’ve had enormous help from Bre and Karyne and with them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”

He progressed well in the early years.
“I came close to making the London Paralympics, but ultimately not close enough. I managed to throw a B standard a month after the cut-off date, although that still wouldn’t have been all that competitive at London.”

It made him more determined to represent Australia in Rio in 2016.
But he would not need to wait four years to make his Australian debut in Rio, being selected for the 2013 World Para Athletics Championships. In January her threw an A qualifier and was selected for the championships after the summer season. On debut he was brilliant winning a bronze medal in the F37/38 discus. He also was seventh in the shot. In 2015 he threw his now best and Australian record of 53.99m. At the world championships he nailed 53.41m to claim silver. He did make his Paralympic debut in 2016, just missing a medal in Rio with fourth. In 2017, at the world championships, he was back on the podium with another silver and throwing 53.59m – his best distance in International competition. 

Outside of the athletics there were major changes in Guy’s life. In October 2017 he moved to Calgary in Canada, to be close to his future wife, Jen Brown, who competes in the same event and classification as Guy. 

Now training in Canada, Guy was selected for the 2019 world championships in Dubai, where he achieved his fourth consecutive podium at the world championships, placing third. He was fourth at his second Paralympics in Tokyo, ahead of he and Jennifer moving back to Australia and settling in Melbourne. During the 2023 summer in Australian he was three times over 50 metres with a best of 51.71m.

Occupation: IT…Impairment: At age 7, a brain tumour permanently affected his movement on his right side. His impairment is Right Hemi-Paresis, and comes under the broad category of Cerebral Palsy. “Having a weakness on the right-side does come with its own obstacles, although that’s what makes the sport interesting to me. I like to think of it as a challenge rather than a restriction”…Sport: It is a big part of my life ever since I was young and not just one sport in particular. I love all aspects of it, whether it’s keeping active or meeting new friends, plus it’s also a great way to let off steam after a long day at work…Other sports: I was introduced to tennis at a young age and played at a competitive level in able-bodied tennis up until the last couple of years when I started athletics.

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