Australian Paralympic team unveils 2016 Rio Games uniforms for biggest travelling squad ever

FOR Torita Isaac and the rest of Australia’s Rio-bound Paralympians, getting their hands on the official uniforms suddenly “makes it feel more real.”

Australia’s paralympic stars were out in force for the squad’s uniform launch.

TORITA Isaac doesn’t need a countdown clock to track the start of this year’s Paralympic Games in Rio.

“You know it’s getting close when you try on the uniform for the first time,” the Queensland 400m runner says.

“Putting this on today definitely makes it feel more real.

“And the fact that it includes the Indigenous artwork — I get to carry that with me in Rio. As a proud Indigenous woman, it means so much to me that I can represent my country as well as my culture at the Paralympics.”

The Australian Paralympic team on Tuesday unveiled its 2016 Rio uniforms that it hopes will lead the country’s biggest travelling squad to another top-five finish on this year’s medal tally.

The uniforms were modelled in Sydney by veteran and emerging athletes, headed by co-captains Kurt Fearnley and Daniela Di Toro.

Indigenous art — styled by design studio Balarinji — is incorporated in the traditional green and gold, signifying strength, shared intent and dynamic energy.

Competition and casual gear was designed by performance brand 2XU while athletes will march in R.M. Williams wear at the opening ceremony in 92 days.

Torita Isaac, Kurt Fearnley and Ahmed Kelly show off the new Aussie designs.

Team chef de mission Kate McLoughlin said beyond the look, the 2016 kits included design technology that would maximise comfort in the expected hot and humid South American conditions.

Fearnley, a veteran of four Paralympics and a three-time gold medallist, said most important was what the Australian uniform truly represented.

“There is so much passion and belief and hard work between every one of these athletes to get to this stage right now,” he said.

“We’ve been given this stage by 70 years of incredibly hard work, of forging our way into the mainstream public’s eye — and it hasn’t been easy. There have been decades of people who have fought, and never seen (the rewards).

“We’re here now because of it.”

Australia has finished fifth overall at each of the past three Games, in London, Beijing and Athens. As host nation in Sydney in 2000, it topped the leaderboard.

The 2016 Paralympics runs from September 7 to 18 and will be broadcast on the Seven Network.

Originally published as Australian Paralympic team unveils 2016 Rio Games uniforms for biggest travelling squad ever