Rhiannon Clarke

Happy birthday to Australian Paralympic sprint star Rhiannon Clarke and this year, the whole sporting world is throwing the party: her birthday falls on the very day of the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in Glasgow, where Rhiannon will chase T38 gold in both the 100m and 200m. She’s already got silver from the Gold Coast, won at just 15, and bronze from Birmingham. Her own words on Glasgow: turn the silver and bronze into two golds.

The résumé behind that ambition is immense: two Paralympic Games, three World Championships medals, and the Australian T38 open records in the 100m, 200m AND 400m — including the 12.72 she unleashed in the Paris Paralympic final. It all began at a “come and try” day in Perth, back when a young Rhiannon rarely saw athletes with cerebral palsy like hers on TV. Now she IS that athlete on TV, for thousands of kids watching. Off the track she studies wildlife conservation, rides horses, and ballroom dances.

Happy birthday, Rhiannon — light the flame in Glasgow and go get those golds! 🎂🎁🎉🫶🫶🇦🇺