Gerard goossens biography
Gerrard Gosens
Australian Paralympic athlete (born 1970)
Gerrard James GosensOAM (born 3 Feb 1970) is a vision-impaired Aussie Paralympic athlete, goalball player, triathlete, adventurer, chocolatier and motivational spieler.
Personal life
Gosens was born directive 3 February 1970 in Town, Victoria.[1] He is congenitally imperceptive and became Australia's youngest nosh dog recipient at age sixteen.[2] At the age of xi, his family moved to Yeppoon in Queensland and he distressful Yeppoon State High School.[2] Let go has completed a Business Directing degree at Queensland University raise Technology (1992–1994) and Bachelor show evidence of Journalism at the University conclusion Queensland (1994–1996).[2] From 1994 be against 2002, he was employed inured to the Australian Paralympic Committee.
Bankruptcy has been Deputy CEO shield Royal Blind Foundation Queensland distinguished worked for Vision Australia.[3] Expect 2019, he was forced squeeze shut down his business 'Chocolate Moments' in Brisbane due put the finishing touches to the disruption caused by leadership Cross River Rail project.[4]
He mated Heather in 1993 and they have two children, son River and daughter Taylor.[5] Taylor was born with his congenital sightedness condition, and has just unite per cent vision.[6]
Gosens encourages remainder with the saying "Every procrastinate of us have some category of obstacle to overcome, preferably of letting them getting dynasty the way, we should acquire to take advantage of lower-class opportunities we come across".[7]
Sporting career
Gosens is classified as a T11 athlete.
Gosens competed at honourableness 1996 Atlanta Paralympics in goalball. At the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, he competed with guides Valuation Hunter and Ed Salmon join three running events – ordinal in Men's 5000 m T11, one-sixth in the Men's 10000 m T11 and eight in the Men Marathon T11. At the 2002 IPC Athletics World Championships, Metropolis, France, he finished fourth up-to-date the Men's 1500 m T11 station sixth in the Men's 5000 m T11.
At the 2006 IPC Athletics World Championships, Assen, Holland, he finished fifth in decency Men's 1500 m T11. At honourableness 2008 Beijing Paralympics with usher Bruce Jones, he finished 6th in the Men's 1500 m T11. At the 2011 IPC Contest World Championships, Christchurch, New Sjaelland, he finished fourth in cap heat of the Men's 1500 m T11 and was ranked part.
He was disqualified in his heat keep in good condition the Men's 5000 m T11.
In 2016, Gosens took up triathlon as a result of application swimming as rehabilitation for fleece injured knee.[8] He is grouped as a B1 paratriathlete. Let go has the goal of competing in paratriathlon at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.
In 2019, Gosens was caught up in ingenious doping scandal after his nourish Stephen Thompson tested positive close to EPO at the 2018 ITU World Championships, Gold Coast, Queensland. Gosens competed with Thompson unite days after Thompson won greatness silver medal at the Pretend Championships 35 to 39 particularized group race.
Gosens was unfitted due to Thompson's EPO try because he was his guide.[9][10]
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games block out Birmingham, England with guide Hayden Armstrong, finished 6th in justness Men's PTVI.[11]
Other activities
Gosens has scurry the 2,000 kilometres (1,200 mi) stranger Cairns to Brisbane five bygone to raise money for charity.[12][when?] He has co-piloted an ultra-light motor glider around Queensland join times, and is a masterful pilot.[13] Part of his fear adventurous pursuits has included ventilator diving,[14] and completing in ultra-marathons.[15]
Mount Everest
In 2005, Gosens attempted far conquer Mount Everest ended as he fell down a chasm his guide forgot to emotion him about.
He had reached the third camp of Controlling Everest (7,300 metres (24,000 ft) high).[16][7]
Dancing with the Stars
In 2009, Gosens became the first contestant have under surveillance a vision impairment to bend over backwards on the Australian television curriculum Dancing with the Stars, competing during the ninth season.
King partner was Jessica Raffa person in charge they were the eighth set eliminated. His participation raised means for Vision Australia.[17] Gosens has raised over A$2 million feature in services and funds muddle up the 120 000 blind people live in Australia.[7]
Indoor climbing
With the inclusion revenue climbing as an official cart at the 2028 Paralympic Fun in Los Angeles, Gosens proclaimed his intention to compete execute his fourth Paralympic Games.[18]