Dominic Monypenny (born 9 October 1960)[1] is an Australian Paralympic rower and skier. He is a two-time world champion in the adaptive fixed seat single-sculls rowing category.

Dominic Monypenny
Personal information
Nationality Australia
Born (1960-10-09) 9 October 1960 (age 63)
Medal record
Paralympic rowing
World Rowing Championships
Gold medal – first place 2005 Gifu Men's single sculls
Gold medal – first place 2006 Eton Dorney Men's single sculls
Silver medal – second place 2007 Munich Men's single sculls

Personal edit

In 1996 Monypenny fell 30 metres (98 ft) while rock climbing in the Cataract Gorge in Launceston resulting in paraplegia.[2]

After his fall Monypenny continued to remain active in a range of sports including wheelchair tennis and Basketball, wheelchair racing, hand cycling, indoor rock climbing and skiing before concentrating on adaptive rowing.

As a member of the TASRAD Board (Tasmanian Sport and Recreation Association for people with a Disability), Dominic encouraged and mentored many other Tasmanians with disabilities to be active and participate in sports and recreation.

Monypenny holds a PhD in Organic Chemistry[1] and is currently working at Lilydale District High School.

Summer Paralympics – Competitive Rowing edit

Monypenny took up the sport of rowing in 2003 training with the Tamar Rowing Club. In a short period he was competing both nationally and internationally. At the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, he finished sixth in the Men's Single Sculls AM1x.[3]

Winter Paralympics – Nordic Skiing edit

Soon after the 2008 Beijing Paralympics, Monypenny switched to Nordic Skiing with the aim of competing in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympics. His first major competition was in January 2009 for the US Nationals. He competed in Vancouver in the Men's 1 km Sprint sitting, Men's 10 km sitting, and Men's 15 km sitting events.[3] At the end of the Games, he announced his retirement from the sport.[4]

Recognition edit

  • 2005 Australian Rower's Rower Award
  • 2005 Tasmanian Disabled Sportsperson
  • 2006 Tasmanian Disabled Sportsperson
  • 2007 Tasmanian Sportsman Award
  • 2015 Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame inductee[5]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Dominic Monypenny". Australian Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 17 March 2012. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Tasmanian rower Dominic Monypenny is our hope at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games". ABC News. 27 August 2008. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  3. ^ a b "Athlete Search Results". International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 29 February 2012.
  4. ^ "Paralympian Monypenny retires". ABC News. Australia. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  5. ^ Bresnehan, James (10 December 2015). "Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame". The Mercury. Retrieved 11 December 2015.