Greg Hammond

Gregory John Hammond , OAM^[1] (born 10 May 1967) is an Australian Paralympic swimmer who also competed at an international level in sailing and volleyball.

Greg Hammond

2000 Australian Paralympic team portrait of Hammond
Personal information
Full name	Gregory John Hammond
Nationality	Australia
Born	(1967-05-10) 10 May 1967 (age 57)
Height	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Medal record Swimming Paralympic Games 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Men's 100 m Breaststroke A8 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Men's 100 m Freestyle A8 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Men's 4x100 m Medley Relay A1–A9 1988 Seoul Men's 100 m Breaststroke A8 1988 Seoul Men's 100 m Freestyle A8 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Men's 100 m Butterfly A8 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Men's 200 m Individual Medley A8 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Men's 4x100 m Freestyle Relay A1–A9 1988 Seoul Men's 4x50 m Freestyle Relay A1–A8

Personal

Hammond was born on 10 May 1967 in Sydney, with a shortened right forearm.^[2][3] While growing up around Manly, one of his favourite sports was sailing.^[3] As of 2000, he had two children, and was working as a mechanical engineer.^[3]

Career

Hammond (right) at the net during 2000 Summer Paralympics standing volleyball match

At the 1984 New York/Stoke Mandeville Paralympics, Hammond won three gold medals in the Men's 100 m Breaststroke A8, Men's 100 m Freestyle A8, and Men's 4x100 m Medley Relay A1–A9 events, and three silver medals in the Men's 100 m Butterfly A8, Men's 200 m Individual Medley A8, and Men's 4x100 m Freestyle Relay A1–A9 events.^[3][4][5] At the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, he won two gold medals in the Men's 100 m Breaststroke A8 and Men's 100 m Freestyle A8 events, and a silver medal in the Men's 4x50 m Freestyle Relay A1–A8 event.^[3][4][6] During his swimming career, he was coached by Peter Ryan and Harry Gallagher.^[7]

He gave up swimming after the 1988 Summer Paralympics because he had achieved all his goals in that sport, and concentrated on sailing. He was part of a Sonar team that was aiming to participate in the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, but it did not qualify because it came ninth in a pre-games regatta in Florida.^[3] His crew then prepared to sail at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics, but in November 1999, one of the members quit due to business reasons.^[3] An old friend then invited him to participate in the volleyball campaign, and he became part of the men's "standing" team, where his height of 1.96 metres (6 ft 5 in) gave him a distinct advantage.^[3][4]

Recognition

In 2007, Hammond was inducted into the Northern Beaches Sporting Hall of Fame.^[8] In 2010, he received a Medal of the Order of Australia "For service to sport, particularly through achievements as a paralympian".^[1]

References

1. "Hammond, Gregory John". It's an Honour. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
2. "Athlete's Profile". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 5 December 2000. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
3. Derriman, Philip (15 October 2000). "Done The Swimming, Now For The Volleyball". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 3 May 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
4. "Athlete Search Results". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
5. "1984 Summer Paralympics Australian Swimming Medallists: Men". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
6. "1988 Summer Paralympics Australian Swimming Silver Medallists: Men". International Paralympic Committee. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
7. "Paralympics Profiles – Greg Hammond". International Swimmer. 25: 10. December 1988.
8. "Northern Beaches Sporting Hall of Fame". Pittwater Council. Retrieved 3 March 2012.