Hugo Taheny

Acheivements:

2019 Hugo won Silver in the Shot Put and Bronze in the Discus at the Australian All Schools Championship as a T20 athlete.

In 2019 Hugo won the U/20 para mens Shot Put, Discus and Javelin at the SA State Champs and went on to compete in Sydney at the National Track and Field Championships. He threw PB’s in all three events competing as a T20 athlete.
Hugo qualified to represent Australia in Brisbane in 2019 at the INAS Global Games. Here he won Gold in the Men’s II-2 Discus and Silver in the Javelin. Becoming the World Champion was absolutely amazing for Hugo! Competing for the first time in a field of athletes who all live with Down syndrome for the first time was amazing.
In 2020 he won the Discus, Shot Put and Javelin at the SA State Championships and entered the Nationals but this was cancelled due to Covid-19.
In 2021 Hugo turned over the SA state records ( for Discus, Shot Put and Javelin ) 8 times during the season.

He won the 2021 SA State Chmpionships Open Para Men’s Discus, Shot Put and Javelin.
Hugo competed at the 2021 National Track and Field Championships in Sydney where he won Gold in the the Open Men’s Para Discus with an Australian record breaking throw.He also won Silver in the Open Men’s Para Shot Put with another Australian record breaking throw. He then placed fifth in the Open Para Men’s Javelin and threw a PB and recorded another Australian record his third for the championships.
2021 R/U Open Mens Champion Westerns Athletics Club
2021 Most Outstanding Para Athlete Westerns Athletics Club
A highlight for Hugo during the 20/21 was being nominated for the Athletics SA Open Men’s Athlete of the year.

Hugo finished the 20/21 season ranking No 2. in the world for IAADS ( International Association for Athletes with Down syndrome ) in both Discus and Shot Put. Something he hopes to improve on next season.

Hugo dreams of representing Australia at the Paralympics and we can only hope that he will continue to be a positive role model and advocate for athletes living with Down syndrome so that this may hopefully one day occur.