Rodney Nugent

Rodney Francis Nugent, OAM[1] (born 26 November 1967) is an Australian Paralympic athlete.

Rodney Nugent
Personal information
Full nameRodney Francis Nugent
Nationality Australia
Born26 November 1967
Lismore, New South Wales
Medal record
Athletics
Paralympic Games
1988 SeoulMen’s Long Jump
1988 SeoulMen’s Triple Jump
1988 SeoulMen's 4x100 m Relay A2A4-7
1988 SeoulMen's 4x400 m Relay A2A4-7
1992 Barcelona Men's 4x100 m Relay TS2,4
1988 SeoulMen’s 100 m (A6 A8 A9 L4)
1988 SeoulMen’s 200 m (A6 A8 A9 L4)
1988 SeoulMen’s High Jump (A6 A8 A9 L6)
World Championships and Games for the Disabled
1990 Assen Men's Triple Jump 9F
1990 Assen Men's 4x100 m Relay 3T
1990 Assen Men's 100 m 6T
1990 Assen Men's High Jump 9F
1990 Assen Men's High Jump 9F

Personal

Nugent was born on 26 November 1967 in the northern New South Wales city of Lismore. At the age of 15, he lost the lower portion of his right arm in an industrial accident with a mincing machine . Before the accident, Nugent enjoyed sport and played soccer and cricket. The accident did not stop his love of sport and he turned his focus to athletics and coaching.[2]

He is married and has three sons.[3]

Career

At the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, Nugent entered seven events and won four gold (long jump, triple jump, 4x 100 m Relay, and 4 x 400 m Relay) and three bronze medals (100 m, 200 m and high jump).[4] He broke three world records.

Rodney Nugent winner of 5 medals in Athletics at the 1988 Seoul Paralympic Games.

At the World Championships and Games for the Disabled in Assen, Netherlands he won gold medals in the men's triple jump 9F and men's 4x100 m relay 3T, silver medals in the men's 100 m 6T and men's high jump 9F and bronze medal in men's long jump 9F.[5]

In 1992, he accepted a scholarship in the newly established Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Athletes with a Disabilities program and was coached by Chris Nunn.[6] In joining the AIS program, Nugent commented "It’s very hard for athletes to finance their own training – I did it for years and it was tough. Getting this scholarship with the AIS has made all the difference. The facilities are good and the training program is excellent".[2]

Nugent won a gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games in the Men's 4x100 m Relay TS2,4 event, a world record. He also competed in the 100 m, 200 m, long jump and triple jump.[4] He left the AIS program after the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics.

In two Paralympics, Nugent won five gold and three bronze medals.[4]

In an interview in 2011, Nugent commented that sport allowed him to achieve the goals he had as an able bodied athlete and played a significant role in his rehabilitation.

Nugent is currently with Mid North Coast Special Olympics as public relations officer and coaching Special Olympic athletes Bennett Powell and Josh Southgate in Port Macquarie.[7] He is the Australian special olympics head athletics coach and has also filled this role at the state level for New South Wales.[8][9]

Awards
  • Daily Examiner Sports Star of the Year Award - 1986, 1987 & 1988
  • Medal of the Order of Australia (1993) for his 1992 gold medal[1]
  • Clarence Valley Council Sporting Wall of Fame induction in 2002.[10]
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References
  1. "Nugent, Rodney Francis". It's an Honour. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
  2. "They'll reign in Spain". Sports Chat (70): 7. September 1992.
  3. Thompson, Phil (30 January 2006). "Port's baton delight". Port Macquarie News. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  4. "Athlete Search Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  5. World Championships and Games for the Disabled - Athletics Results. Netherlands: Organising Committee. 1990.
  6. "Australian Institute of Sport Honour Roll at the Paralympics". Archived from the original on 23 February 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  7. "Medals to mentor". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 8 November 2011. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
  8. "Team Australia". Special Olympics Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  9. "2014 National Games | Team New South Wales". Special Olympics Australia. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
  10. "Rodney Nugent" (PDF). Clarence Valley Council Sporting Wall of Fame. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2012.
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