Neil Fuller
Encyclopedia
Neil Fuller OAM
is an Australia
n athlete, Paralympic competitor, and amputee.
During his youth, Neil was an ambitious soccer player, gaining a position playing at state level for South Australia
. It was during a soccer match that his tibia
and fibula were broken, as well as severing a major artery
in his right leg.
Becoming legally an adult during his time in hospital, he opted to have the lower part of his right leg amputated after gangrene
had set in.
Neil has since made a comeback into the world of sports, becoming a world class runner and world record holder. He was inducted into the Athletics South Australia Hall of Fame in 1997.
He participated in four consecutive Summer Paralympic Games
, from 1992 to 2004. In 1992
he won a gold medal, two silvers, and one bronze. At the 1996 Summer Paralympics
, he took silver in the 100 and 200 metre races and gold in the 4×100 metre relay. Four years later, at the Sydney Paralympics
, he won four gold medals in the 200 metres, 400 metres, 4×100 metre relay, and 4×400 metre relay, and a bronze in the 100 metres. At the 2004 Paralympics in Athens
, he won a silver medal in the 400 metres, another silver in the 4×400 metre relay, and a bronze in the 4×100 metre relay.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n athlete, Paralympic competitor, and amputee.
During his youth, Neil was an ambitious soccer player, gaining a position playing at state level for South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It was during a soccer match that his tibia
Tibia
The tibia , shinbone, or shankbone is the larger and stronger of the two bones in the leg below the knee in vertebrates , and connects the knee with the ankle bones....
and fibula were broken, as well as severing a major artery
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
in his right leg.
Becoming legally an adult during his time in hospital, he opted to have the lower part of his right leg amputated after gangrene
Gangrene
Gangrene is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies . This may occur after an injury or infection, or in people suffering from any chronic health problem affecting blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is reduced blood...
had set in.
Neil has since made a comeback into the world of sports, becoming a world class runner and world record holder. He was inducted into the Athletics South Australia Hall of Fame in 1997.
He participated in four consecutive Summer Paralympic Games
Summer Paralympic Games
The Summer Paralympic Games or the Games of the Paralympiad, are an international multi-sport event, where athletes with physical disabilities compete. This includes athletes with mobility disabilities, amputations, blindness, and Cerebral Palsy. The Paralympic Games are held every four years,...
, from 1992 to 2004. In 1992
1992 Summer Paralympics
The 1992 Summer Paralympics were the ninth Paralympic Games to be held. They were held in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.- Sports :The games consisted of 487 events spread over fifteen sports. Powerlifting and weightlifting were considered to be a single sport...
he won a gold medal, two silvers, and one bronze. At the 1996 Summer Paralympics
1996 Summer Paralympics
The 1996 Paralympic Games in Atlanta, USA were held from 16 August to 25 August. It was the first Paralympics to get mass media sponsorship, and had a budget of USD $81 million....
, he took silver in the 100 and 200 metre races and gold in the 4×100 metre relay. Four years later, at the Sydney Paralympics
2000 Summer Paralympics
The 2000 Paralympic Games were held in Sydney, Australia, from 18 October to 29 October. The eleventh Summer Paralympic Games, an estimated 3800 athletes took part in the Sydney programme. They commenced with the opening ceremony on 18 October 2000...
, he won four gold medals in the 200 metres, 400 metres, 4×100 metre relay, and 4×400 metre relay, and a bronze in the 100 metres. At the 2004 Paralympics in Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, he won a silver medal in the 400 metres, another silver in the 4×400 metre relay, and a bronze in the 4×100 metre relay.