Clarke was born in Adelaide, South Australia on 19 June 1961[3] and was raised in Kilburn, Adelaide. He began drinking at age 14 and moved out of home the following year to work as a "sanitation engineer". His judo coach and mentor Michael Headland perceived "a life which was not going to amount to anything".[1]
In 1978 Clarke lost control of the wheel of his car and drove it into a Stobie pole.[6] He later recalled watching his hands fill with blood until he passed out. When he regained consciousness he was blind and his mother, Marjorie, had permitted the surgical removal of his left eye. In 2004 she recounted to ABC Television presenter George Negus, "the doctor said, 'you'd be a good advertisement for don't drink and drive'".
Clarke learned braille and computer skills using screen-reading technology, and spent two and a half years hitch-hiking across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring "the dog is well visible to get a sympathy lift."[1]
Clarke is also a musician and has performed with a banjo and a mouth organ on James Place near Rundle Mall, Adelaide, every day for 15 years.[7] In April 2016 Clarke reported to the police he had been repeatedly targeted by a thief[8] later identified as Anastasia Dokas, 64. He explained that she gained his trust by giving him food, and that as he placed it down, she would take the money from his banjo case. Dokas denies the allegations, however her counsel recommends her case be referred to a mental health court diversion program.[9]
Career
In 1993 Clarke achieved his first career win against a sighted opponent at the Australian National Judo Championships. He secured a place in the Under 95kg semi-final, a first for blind judo competitors, and was awarded a bronze medal.[10]
This has surprised a few of those knockers, I'll tell you. I've won gold and silver in the South Australian championships, against sighted people before, but I'm messing with the big boys now, and I'm thrilled to bits.
Tony's Barcelona Olympic was bitterly disappointing for him. He was really upset with the way that he fought and he was going to spend the next four years making sure that that didn't happen again. When he got to Atlanta, it didn't happen again. He fought fiercely like a tiger and actually won that event. So he got the gold medal.
In December 2006 Clarke accused the Oceania Judo Union of violating the Disability Discrimination Act (1975) by excluding him from its 2005 World Tournament and effectively costing him his place in the 2008 Australian Olympic team. He sought from the Federal Magistrates Court $31,440 (AUD) in compensation.[18] The application was discontinued following mediation and a confidential settlement.[19]
↑ Beijing 2008(PDF). Media Guide. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2008. p.79. Archived from the original(PDF) on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
↑ Athens 2004(PDF). Media Guide. Sydney: Australian Paralympic Committee. 2004. p.53.
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