Western Australians Brant Garvey and Claire McLean named in seven-strong Australian Rio para-triathlon squad

Western Australians Brant Garvey and Claire McLean have been named on a seven-strong Australia para-triathlon squad for the Rio Games.

WA's Brant Garvey is off to the Rio Paralympic Games. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

Western Australians Brant Garvey and Claire McLean have been named in a seven-strong Australia para-triathlon squad for the Rio Games.

The pair take the number of WA athletes in the Rio Paralympics squad to 18 across eight sports.

Born without his left leg above the knee, Garvey will compete in the PT2 class.

The 31-year-old met the selection criteria in April when he finished second at an ITU World Para-Triathlon event in Penrith, qualifying Australia’s berth in the classification in the process.

He reinforced his credentials by winning silver at another ITU World event in Yokohama, Japan in May, as he continued to improve his time, particularly in the cycling discipline.

McLean will join Garvey in Rio, with the 41 year-old earning selection in the PT4 class.

WA’s Claire McLean will compete in her second Paralympic Games.

McLean competed at the 2004 Athens Games in Para-Cycling but switched to Triathlon after missing selection for London 2012.

She has now represented and medalled at World Championship level in both sports for Australia.

A motorcycle accident as a 19 year-old, left McLean with a paralysed arm on her left side, with the condition known as brachial plexus palsy.

With Para-Triathlon a multiclass event, her disability restricts her time against some of her competitors in the swimming leg, but her prowess in cycling makes up for this, with McLean set to push for a medal in Rio.

She is looking to join an exclusive list of athletes to medal in two Paralympic disciplines, having won silver in the cycling individual time trial in Athens.

With @Qantas boarding pass in hand our first @AUSParalympics #Paratriathlon Team are ready for #Rio2016 #WeBelieve pic.twitter.com/CDMdsGsJr7

— Triathlon Australia (@TriAustralia) August 3, 2016

“We are so delighted to welcome our Para-triathletes onto the Australian Paralympic Team for the first time. It’s been a long wait, but I know they’re ready to do our nation proud and I can’t wait to see them in action,” Australian Paralympic team chef de mission Kate McLoughlin said.

The Paralympics are held between September 7-18.

Originally published as Western Australians Brant Garvey and Claire McLean named in seven-strong Australian Rio para-triathlon squad