Jake Lappin

EVENTS:  T54 800m, 1500m and Marathon

AGE:  30 (DOB 11 Sept 1992)

COACH:  Jamie Green/Fred Periac

CLUB:  North Canberra Gungahlin

STATE: ACT

AUSTRALIAN TEAM DEBUT: 2010 Commonwealth Games

PERSONAL BESTS: 800m 1:31.62 (2023) 1500m 2:57.72 (2022)

BIOGRAPHY

Not long after attending a racing-specific training camp, Jake Lappin, 18, began competing in T54 class events alongside Australian Paralympic legends, Kurt Fearnley and Richard Colman, when he first represented Australia at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. From those early teenage years, Jake has gone on to carve out a long and successful career in the green and gold. 

While still a teenager, Jake would compete at his first World Para-Athletics Championships in 2011 and the London Paralympics in 2012.

At his Paralympic debut in London, he competed in the 400m and 800m. For his second and third World Championships in 2013 and 2015, he added the 1500m to his competition program. His best place was fifth in the 800m at the 2013 Worlds.

At his second Paralympic Games, he was confident in his ability to reach new heights in Rio. But unfortunately, Jake was forced to withdraw from the competition due to illness just two events into his Games campaign, meaning the Australian 4x400m relay team comprising Jake, Kurt, Richard and Sam Carter did not compete in the final.

Jake bounced back to top form in June 2017 as he prepared for the London world championships during a series of races in Switzerland. He broke Kurt Fearnley’s national 800m record which had stood for 13 years. He also set three personal bests during the competitions. At the Championships, Jake competed in the 400m, 800m and 1500m, with a best result of 10th in the 1500m.

On home soil in 2018, Jake was in new territory at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games where he debuted on the road at a major Games/Championship, competing in the marathon where he placed sixth. The Games were also a breakthrough for Jake, winning bronze in the T54 1500m – his first international Games/Champs medal.

At the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, Jake competed in the 800m and 1500m and added the 5000m to his competition program. He was best in the 1500m with sixth in the final.

The next couple of years COVID affected competition opportunities, and then he missed selection for the Tokyo Paralympics, but in 2022 he returned to the National team for his third Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. He placed fifth in the marathon (1:56.21) and just missed the podium in the T54 1500m placing fourth in 3:17.87.

In terrific form in Europe in May 2023, he broke the Australian T54 800m record clocking 1:31.62. He now holds Australian records from 100m to 800m, including the open T54 400m and 800m. One that still eludes him is Kurt Fearnley’s T54 1500m of 3:54.75 set over 10 years ago. Jake has a best of 3:57.72 from 2022.

Impairment: Born with abdominal and spinal problems, as well as a weakness in his right leg…Strength: Jake is able to perform push-ups without the use of his legs…Hobbies: plays the guitar and drums and enjoys listening to Daft Punk, and is working towards one day owning a gym…Memorable sporting moment: bronze in the T54 1500m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, QLD, Australia…Hero: Australian wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley.

@ 20 June 2023 david.tarbotton@athletics.org.au