Kevin Andrews (Menzies, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

With the Tokyo Paralympics about to commence may I take this opportunity to extend my best wishes to all our Australian competitors, but particularly to a constituent of mine from Templestowe, Lina Lei.

Lina's table tennis odyssey began in her native Sichuan in China when she was five years old. By the time she was 15 she had become a world para champion in singles and teams, and two years later claimed the first of her Paralympic gold medals at Athens in 2004. Tokyo will be Lina's fifth Paralympic competition, having competed not only in Athens but in Beijing, London, Rio and now in Tokyo. Born with a deficiency in her lower right leg, she kept herself a force in the sport over so many years, winning every gold medal up for grabs at Paralympic level and world para championships, an extraordinary run of success. Indeed, she has eight Paralympic medals, including five gold medals—no mean feat.

After Rio, Lina Lei came to Australia and she will represent this country for the first time in Tokyo. Currently aged 33, she remains a force at the international level. Her motto is 'never give up'. Best wishes to Lina and to all the Australian Paralympians.