Shooter Libby Kosmala was honoured for her excellence in sportsmanship by being awarded the Australian Paralympic Committee’s President’s Medal.
Cyclist Keiran Modra also received the medal from APC president Greg Hartung, and the APC said it was “a fitting honour for the pair, who exemplify the award’s values of respect, honour, fairness, modesty and integrity”.
“Competing at her 11th Games and with nine Paralympic gold medals, shooter Kosmala stands as one of the most decorated and experienced athletes in Australia,” the committee said.
“Her love and passion for shooting was evident when, at 70, she became the oldest athlete to compete at the London Games and made the final of her pet event, the 10m air rifle standing.
“With more than 40 years experience at the Paralympic Games, Kosmala was not only an inspiration to her fellow shooters but to all athletes on the team.”
Libby won a bronze medal for swimming at the 1972 Summer Paralympics before taking to shooting, and won gold with her rifle four years later at the Toronto Games.
Her most successful Games were in 1984, when she took a haul of four golds, but in Korea in ’88 she won three more, plus a silver.
Libby carried the Australian flag for the Paralympic team at the 1996 Games in Atlanta, and has been honoured with the Order of Australia, Australian Sports Medal and Centenary Medal.
She announced her retirement from Paralympic shooting at the London Games this year.
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