Australian Paralympic team in Rio finish top five for Play of the Weekend

THEY achieved what they said they would and they did it in style. It’s why the Australian Paralympic team has won Swoop PLAY OF THE WEEKEND.

The Australian Paralympic team have defended their mantle as one of the top teams in the world.

THEY achieved what they said they would and they did it in style, despite being one of the least experienced teams we have ever sent to the Paralympics.

It’s why the Australian Paralympic team is our first ever team to win Swoop Play of the Weekend.

The team came home with a wet sail with a swag of medals on the final two days of competition to reach their objective of top five on the medal count.

The Australian team now joins the likes of rider Caroline Buchanan, Paralympian Jessica Gallagher, netballers Caitlin Bassett and Madi Robinson, new WBBL cricketer Renee Straumietis, Matildas captain Lisa De Vanna, Opals and WNBA star Penny Taylor, paddler Jessica Fox, Olympic track cyclist Anna Meares and equestrian Edwina Tops-Alexander as a winner of a Swoop Play of the Day, Play of the Week or Play of the Weekend.

Team Australia celebrate after winning the match against the US in the rugby.

Gold medallist Curtis McGrath carries the flag for Australia during the closing ceremony.

From Kurt Fearnley’s final marathon at his fourth Paralympics to a golden sailing double, the team held their own right to the end of the Games.

The Australian team wanted a top five finish in Rio and that’s what they got thanks to their 81 medals.

They ended the event in style thanks to the thrilling gold from the wheelchair basketball team and Fearnley’s farewell silver.

Isis Holt winning silver in the 200m T35 final in Rio. .

It was the seventh successive Paralympics where the Australian team has managed to race it’s way into the top five on the medal tally.

In total Australia’s athletes won 22 gold medals.

They also won 30 silver and 29 bronze.

Australia’s Olympic team finished 10th in Rio with 29 medals — eight gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze.

Some of Australia’s new stars of the Paralympics included young swimmer Maddison Elliott and Year 9 schoolgirl Isis Holt on the track.

Some of the veterans stars included seven time Paralympian Liesl Tesch and skipper Dan Fitzgibbons with their gold in sailing and 55-year-old Carol Cooke who won two gold medals in cycling.

Originally published as Australian Paralympic team in Rio finish top five for Play of the Weekend