Rizzo reflects on Paralympics debut

SAM Rizzo achieved a childhood dream earlier this month.

The local athlete was one of two para cyclists to represent Ballarat in the recent Paralympics in Paris.

Having pushed towards his goal since he was eight years old, he said it’s amazing to have put on the green and gold for his country.

“It’s a pretty incredible feeling to have achieved a long-term goal of mine since I was eight years old,” he said.

“I think eight-year-old Sam would be pretty proud we made it to the Paralympics, the first one hopefully of many.”

Rizzo’s dream to compete in the Paralympics was sparked when he saw para-athlete Richard Colman presenting at a spina fibida family camp in 2008.

Later that year, Rizzo watched as Colman competed in the Beijing Paralympics.

“It was my first time watching it, because I was seeing someone I’d met before,” he said.

“Just seeing these people who were just like me pushing themselves and the sport to the absolute limit was something I knew I wanted to be involved in.”

Rizzo took up the sport in 2012 at Colman’s recommendation, who has coached him ever since.

Originally meant to compete in the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he competed this year in the T54 800-metre, 5000-metre, and 1500-metre races.

Though he missed out on the finals for all three events, Rizzo said a highlight was hearing the audience.

“The crowds were certainly different,” he said.

“They were absolutely amazing. I don’t think you can really beat that feeling of walking onto the arena with crowds of people cheering.

“There were lots of things I was happy with, but there’s lots of things I can still work on to get to where I want to be.”

Following a short training break, Rizzo will return to competing as part of the Summer Down Under in January followed by qualifying track meets in Dubai and Switzerland.