Who is Louise Sauvage?
Louise Sauvage is an Australian wheelchair racer who won nine Paralympic gold medals and many world championships. She is one of Australia's greatest Paralympians and lit the cauldron at the Sydney 2000 Paralympics.
Sauvage was born in Perth in 1973 with a congenital spinal condition called myelomeningocele. She began swimming and wheelchair racing as a child.
She won four gold medals at the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics and two at the 2000 Sydney Paralympics. She also won the Boston Marathon wheelchair division four times.
Sydney 2000
Sauvage was a star of the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympics. She lit the cauldron at the opening of the Paralympics and won the 800 metres wheelchair exhibition event at the Olympics.
She was named Australian Paralympian of the Year multiple times and was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.
After retiring, Sauvage became a coach of wheelchair athletes and has worked with Australian Paralympic teams. She is known for her determination and her role in raising the profile of Paralympic sport in Australia.
She has also been honored with the Order of Australia.