McCRACKEN Rheed

Date of Birth: 20 Jan 1997

Age: 24

Gender: Male

Sport Class: T34

Place of birth: BUNDABERG, QLD

Birth Country:

Australia

Place of residence : NEWCASTLE, NSW

Residence Country:

Australia

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Athletics	Men's 100m - T34	2
	Men's 800m - T34	6

Schedule

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Olympic Stadium - Track	Men's 100m - T34 Final	Finished
	Olympic Stadium - Track	Men's 800m - T34 Round 1 - Heat 2	Finished
	Olympic Stadium - Track	Men's 800m - T34 Final	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Rank	Event	Year	Location	Result
Paralympic Games
2	100m - T34	2016	Rio de Janeiro, BRA	15.34
2	100m - T34	2012	London, GBR	16.30
3	800m - T34	2016	Rio de Janeiro, BRA	1:41.25
3	Men's 200m T34	2012	London, GBR	29.08
World Championships
2	100m - T34	2019	Dubai, UAE	15.51
2	100m - T34	2017	London, GBR	15.40
2	100m - T34	2013	Lyon, FRA	16.29
2	Men's 200m T34	2013	Lyon, FRA	30.49
2	400m - T34	2013	Lyon, FRA	53.71
3	Men's 200m T34	2017	London, GBR	27.81
3	800m - T34	2013	Lyon, FRA	1:53.15
4	800m - T34	2017	London, GBR	1:46.98
4	100m - T34	2015	Doha, QAT	16.27
5	800m - T34	2019	Dubai, UAE	1:46.67
5	400m - T34	2015	Doha, QAT	56.75
5	800m - T34	2015	Doha, QAT	1:47.92
6	Men's 200m T34	2015	Doha, QAT	29.35

Occupation:

Athlete, Model, Student

Languages spoken:

New South Wales Institute of Sport [Sydney, NSW, AUS]

Andrew Dawes [personal], AUS

He first practised the sport at age 13 in Sydney, NSW, Australia. He began competing in Para athletics in 2005, and took up wheelchair racing in 2010. (paralympic.org.au, 01 Sep 2016; qasport.qld.gov.au, 04 Aug 2015; Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

He initially competed in ambulant events, but after multiple operations decided to start using a wheelchair at age 13. He later had a chance meeting with Australian television personality David Koch, as they were sitting next to each other on an aeroplane. They began talking about Australian wheelchair racer Kurt Fearnley, McCracken's hero. Koch offered him the opportunity to compete in a race featuring Fearnley in Sydney, NSW, Australia. (paralympic.org.au, 01 Sep 2016)

To win a gold medal at the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. (nswis.com, 07 Sep 2020; bundabergnow.com, 07 Sep 2020)

He trains in a group with Australian wheelchair racers Luke Bailey, Christie Dawes, and Aimee Fisher in Newcastle, New South Wales. (newcastleherald.com.au, 25 Aug 2020)

Winning a silver medal in the men's T34 100m at the Paralympic Games in 2012 and 2016. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

His family. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Coach Andrew Dawes. (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Philosophy:

"If you ain't first, you're last." (paralympic.org.au, 30 Sep 2019)

In 2016 he was named Junior Male Athlete of the Year by the Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association in Queensland, Australia. (news-mail.com.au, 27 Nov 2016)

In 2015 he was named Male Sportsperson with an Impairment of the Year at the Bundaberg Regional Sports Awards in Australia. (bundaberg.qld.gov.au, 04 Jul 2015)

In 2012 he was named Junior Athlete of the Year by the Australian Paralympic Committee [APC]. He shared the award with Para swimmer Maddison Elliott. (paralympic.org.au, 05 Apr 2013)

General Interest

Classification
T34 (IPC, 23 Feb 2021)

Origin of Impairment
Congenital (Athlete, 06 Nov 2019)

Impairment Details
He was born with cerebral palsy, affecting both of his legs. At age three he underwent tibial rotation surgery, allowing his muscles to move with less restriction. After further surgery at age 13 he began using a wheelchair. (Facebook page, 26 Jan 2017)

General
TATTOOS
He gets tattoos to commemorate his athletic achievements. "I actually look at my arm and try to find new spaces where I can put a tattoo. There's a Big Ben tattoo which was from my first Paralympic Games in 2012 in London. I also have my racing numbers from the London and Rio Games. There is also a Christ the Redeemer tattoo and also tattoos involving my family. My Superman is solely dedicated to Tyson, a very close friend who sadly passed away and was a tremendous sprinter. He wasn't a wheelchair athlete - just a great person who never got to reach his true potential." (crfashionbook.com, 04 Mar 2018; news-mail.com.au, 14 Jul 2017; Facebook page, 15 Sep 2016)

TOKYO AIM
He represented Australia at the Paralympic Games in 2012 and 2016, winning a total of two silver medals and two bronze medals. "I learn something new at every Games I go to. In London, as the rookie, I went into it with no pressure, and then I went into Rio with all of added pressures that I probably put on myself, so I just want to enjoy this one [in Tokyo]. It's been a crazy year and I'll just let things play out the way they are and not get too worked up. I would love to say third time's the charm and of course I'm going to go into this to win and give it everything I've got, but at the same time I also want to enjoy it and not be so stressed about what the future holds." (bundabergnow.com, 07 Sep 2020)

FURTHER EDUCATION
In 2020 he started a technical and further education course [TAFE] course with a view to studying for a bachelor's degree in pharmacy. (bundabergnow.com, 07 Sep 2020)

Social Media

Legend

:: Silver Medal
:: Gold Medal Event
:: Silver Medal Event
:: Bronze Medal Event

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