Darren Thrupp

Darren Thrupp

Darren Thrupp competing in the 100 m T37 final at the 2008 Beijing Paralympics
Personal information
Full name	Darren Brian Thrupp
Nationality	Australia
Born	6 December 1966 Kilcoy, Queensland
Medal record Paralympic athletics Paralympic Games 1992 Barcelona Long Jump – C7–8 1996 Atlanta Long Jump – F34–37 2000 Sydney 4x100 m – T38 2000 Sydney 4x400 m – T38 2004 Athens 4x100 m – T35–38 2008 Beijing 4x100 m – T35–38 1996 Atlanta 200 metres – T37 2004 Athens 100 metres – T37 2004 Athens Long Jump – F36–38 World Championships and Games for the Disabled 1990 Assen Men's Long Jump C8 1990 Assen Men's 100 m C8 IPC Athletics World Championships 2002 Lille Men's 4x100 m T35–38 2002 Lille Men's 4x400 m T35–38 2006 Assen Men's Long Jump F37 2006 Assen Men's 4x100 m T35–38 2006 Assen Men's 100 m T37

Darren Brian Thrupp, OAM (born 6 December 1966) is an Australian Paralympic athlete competing mainly in category T37 sprint events. He has won nine medals at six Paralympics.

Thrupp was born in the Queensland town of Kilcoy. He acquired a brain injury in a car accident on a dusty Queensland road in February 1985 on the way home from a cricket match against Surat. The accident affected the right side of his body, in a way similar to hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Before the accident, like many young men from country Queensland, he was involved in running, cricket and playing A-grade rugby league for the Wallumbilla Herefords. He was looking forward to a rugby league career. The people of Roma encouraged him to take up athletics. In 1987, he attended a Sporting Wheelies "come and try" day and his times qualified him for the 1998 Seoul Games. His confidence was also assisted by being offered at job at the Roma Railway Station freight shed.

Thrupp has highlighted the tremendous support of the country people of Wallumbilla and Roma in his rehabilitation and their financial support to allow him to attend many international competitions. In 1989, the community raised $6,000 to allow him to compete in a major competition Japan. He credits this support for assisting him to win a gold medal at 1992 Barcelona Games

During his career, Thrupp has trained on his own in the bush around Wallumbilla. His coaches have been in Brisbane. These have included Jo Hogan and since 2001 Gary Bourne. From 1994 to 1995, he had both an Australian Institute of Sport Athletics with a Disability non-residential scholarship and a Queensland Academy of Sport scholarship.

He works as a porter.

Thrupp has competed at six Paralympics. His first Games were the 1988 Seoul Paralympics, where he competed in three events – 100 m, 200 m and 400 m C8 events. Thrupp stated "I have to admit that I was completely overawed by the Paralympics in Seoul. There I was a bloke from outback Queensland, running in front of 100,000 people, so in my event I ran too hard early on and missed out".