Torita Blake strives to make a third Paralympic team bound for Tokyo next year

Torita Blake will strive to make a third Paralympic team bound for Tokyo next year. She was first plucked into the Australian team bound for the London Paralympics in 2012 as a relative novice and wants the experience again in 2021.

Mt Gravatt resident Torita Blake will strive to make a third Paralympic team bound for Tokyo next year.

Blake, a 400m visually impaired runner, was first plucked into the Australian team bound for the London Paralympics in 2012 as a relative novice, aged 17.

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As a schoolgirl Blake thought competitive running would be restricted, but was informed by a teacher that she could run competitively against peers – despite being visually impaired.

From there she joined a local little athletics centre and was invited to the nationals where her sprint talent was identified.

Blake, left, was a flag bearers for the Opening Ceremony of the Arafura Games. Pic Glenn Campbell

Blake was more of a natural over the 200m and 400m distances, but one official asked her to run a 100m.

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“He told me I was running a B qualifiers for the 100m and that is how my professional career started. And then I was selected for London (paralympics),’’ Blake said.

Blake models the Commonwealth Games uniforms, left, in 2018 with now retired swimmer Brittany Elmslie, Delta Gymnastics Georgia Godwin and Gabi Simpson. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Blake said competing in London lit a fuse within her and inspired her to strive for the 2016 Rio Paralympics. “I wanted Rio so bad,’’ she reflected.

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Blake rose to the occasion in Rio, running a PB to finish fourth in her pet 400m.

“That was great. I really enjoyed Rio and breaking my own Australian record,’’ Blake said. “Just missing a medal was … well, you performed at your best, so you can’t ask for more.’’

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Blake said if she made the team for Tokyo, she would be better for the experiences of two previous Paralympic campaigns. “I have that experience behind me, I know what I have to do.’’