| Australia at the 2017 Deaflympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| IOC code | AUS |
| NOC | Deaf Sports Australia |
| Website | deafsports@org.au |
| in Samsun | |
| Competitors | 28 in 5 sports |
| Medals |
|
Australia competed in the 2017 Summer Deaflympics which was held in Samsun, Turkey. Australia sent a team consisting of 28 athletes for the event. [1] This was the 15th appearance that Australia took part at the Summer Deaflympics since making its Deaflympic debut in 1953.
The Deaflympics are an International Olympic Committee (IOC)-sanctioned event at which deaf athletes compete at an elite level. Unlike the athletes in other IOC-sanctioned events, the Deaflympians cannot be guided by sounds. The games have been organized by the Comité International des Sports des Sourds since the first event in 1924.
The 2005 Summer Deaflympics, officially known as the 20th Summer Deaflympics, is an international multi-sport event that was celebrated from 5 January to 16 January 2005 in Melbourne, Australia.
Dean Bryan Barton-Smith, AM is an Australian former decathlete who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics. He also won medals at the Deaflympics in 1989, 1993 and 2005. Barton-Smith is most noted for his work and advocacy with the Australian Federation of Disability Organisations, Deaf Sports Australia and the Deaflympics. Smith also holds world record in Decathlon and also represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games in 1990 and 1994.
The 2017 Summer Deaflympics, officially known as the 23rd Summer Deaflympics, is an international multi-sport event that took place in Samsun, Turkey from July 18 to July 30, 2017. 3,148 athletes from 97 countries competed in 18 sports with 21 disciplines. 86 records were broken with 54 being world records and 32 being Deaflympics records.
The United States has been participating at the Deaflympics from 1935 and it is also currently placed first in the all time Deaflympics medal list. US has won more than 1000 medals, the only nation to do so in Deaflympics.
The 1953 Summer Deaflympics officially known as 7th Deaflympics is an international multi-sport event that was held from 15 August 1953 to 19 August 1953. The event was hosted by Brussels, Belgium.
Cindy-Lu Bailey, also known as Cindy-Lu Fitzpatrick, is a former Australian deaf swimmer who has represented Australia in both Commonwealth Games and in Deaflympics. She is considered to be the most decorated woman in Deaflympics history with a record haul of 29 medals, which is the highest among women in Deaflympics. Bailey is also one of the greatest swimmers of Australia in history.
The Philippines has been competing at the Deaflympics since the 2009 edition. The country is represented by the Phil Sports Federation of the Deaf (PSFD).
Egypt made its Deaflympics debut in the 2013 Summer Deaflympics. Egypt claimed their first Deaflympic medal when they clinched the bronze medal for football in the 2017 Summer Deaflympics Egypt has never participated in the Winter Deaflympics.
Cyprus first competed at the Deaflympics way back in 1997. Since then Cyprus has been participating at the Deaflympics regularly. Cyprus won its first Deaflympic medal for bowling at the 2013 Summer Deaflympics. Cyprus has never participated in the Winter Deaflympics.
Mexico has been participating at the Deaflympics since making its debut way back in 1965. Mexico won its first Deaflympic medal in the 2001 Summer Deaflympics for Athletics. In the 2017 Summer Deaflympics, Mexico won its first ever gold medal in Deaflympics history for Judo.
Amy-Lea Mills or Amy Mills is an Australian Deaflympic track and field athlete who represented Australia in 2005 Summer Deaflympics, 2009 Summer Deaflympics and in 2013 Summer Deaflympics.
Melinda Louise Vernon is an Australian female deaf track and field athlete, triathlete as well as a swimmer. She competed at the 2009 Summer Deaflympics and in the 2013 Summer Deaflympics representing Australia. Vernon won 2 gold, 1 silver and a bronze medal in the Deaflympic events she had competed in Athletic events.
Malaysia first competed at the Deaflympics for the first time in 1993. Since then, Malaysia has competed at the Summer Deaflympics on four occasions. Malaysia won its first Deaflympic medal also during its maiden appearance at the 1993 Summer Deaflympics. Malaysia also narrowly missed the opportunity to compete at the 2013 Summer Deaflympics after being not readied to take part at the event.
Turkish Deaf Sport Federation is the official national sport governing body of Deaf sports in Turkey.
Uruguay competed at the Deaflympics for the first time in 2001. They sent a delegation consisting of only one athlete in the event. Uruguay yet to receive a medal at the Deaflympics.
The 2011 Winter Deaflympics officially known as the 17th Winter Deaflympics was originally scheduled to be held from 18 February 2011 to 26 February 2011 in Vysoké Tatry, Slovakia. This was the first time that Slovakia was selected to host a Deaflympic event. But the multi-sporting event was cancelled due to the lack of preparations, lack of readiness and reluctance by the Deaflympic Committee of Slovakia prior to the event. The event was also cancelled mainly due to the alleged fraud by the former President of the Deaflympic Committee of Slovakia, Jaromir Ruda. The Winter Games was cancelled and was postponed to 2015, which was the 18th Winter Deaflympics.
Soviet Union competed at the Deaflympics for the first time in 1957. Soviet Union competed at each editions of the Summer Deaflympics from 1957 to 1989 except for the 1985 Summer Deaflympics until the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Soviet Union has won medals in every editions of the Summer Deaflympics it has competed and it is considered as one of the greatest nations to have participated at the Deaflympics after earning a medal haul of 524 at the Summer Deaflympics.
Water polo is a water sport which has been contested at the Summer Deaflympics on 11 occasions. Water polo was recognised as a sporting event at the Deaflympics for the first time in 1949 with only two nations competing in the event. Water polo was contested only for men in the Deaflympic history and raised question marks regarding the availability of the sport at the Deaflympics.
Deaf Sports Australia (DSA) formerly known as Australian Deaf Sports Federation is the national governing body of Deaf Sports in Australia.