News Release

Todd Hodgetts Brings Home the Bronze

Australia’s Paralympic shotput champion, Todd Hodgetts travelled to Rio for the Paralympics this month and brought home a Bronze medal. He was the defending champion from the Paralympics in London in 2012 and was hoping to successfully defend his title in Rio. However, this year the gold was claimed by Malaysia’s Muhammad Zolkefli, who set a new world record in the F20 shotput.

Not one to give up easily, Todd is confidently planning his comeback. “My management team and I are making some crucial and necessary changes and it will be a new beginning,” he said. The event he will be preparing for next is the World Championships to be held in London July 2017.

Todd is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and attends the Croyden Ward in the Yarra Valley. “I had a blessing from my bishop before I went. He didn’t say I would win, but he did say I would end up helping people on my team in Rio, which I did. He also said I would do my best work when I get back and that I would enjoy my life. I plan to do just that.”

Known as “The Hulk”, this “man mountain” set a new world record in Hobart last February with a 16.33m throw at the Hobart Briggs Athletics Classic and was named Australian Male Para-athlete of the Year at the Australian Athletics Championships held in Sydney six months ago.

When Todd was asked what it was like at the actual event this year he said, “I warmed up and felt pretty good, but my first throws weren’t that good [and I was feeling down]. After the fourth throw my manager came running down 20 flights of stairs and told me, ‘Todd, you’ve got to fire up. Get moving and let it rip!’ That did get me going, and my last two throws were better. I wish I could have had a few more throws. Next time!”

After the games were over, Todd spent two days touring Rio with his manager Rob Fairs. “It was really great!” he said. He also attended the Australian Paralympic training camp in Florida for two weeks before the event. “I thoroughly enjoyed being there.”

After returning to Melbourne and greeting many of his fans and friends, Todd is now spending a few days relaxing in his hometown of Launceston with his family. He plans to be back to Melbourne soon to begin training for the London event.

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