Liam Malone
New Zealand para-athlete (born 1993)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Liam Bevan Malone MNZM (born 23 December 1993) is a former New Zealand para-athlete, primarily competing in sprint events. He represented New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he won gold medals in the men's 200 metres T44[1] and 400 metres T44,[2] and the silver medal in the men's 100 metres T44.[3]
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23 December 1993
Robert Trimble (3×great-grandfather)
Abel Heywood (4×great-grandfather)
William Malone (3×great-uncle)
Malone in 2017 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | Liam Bevan Malone 23 December 1993 Nelson, New Zealand |
| Relative(s) | Peter Malone (grandfather) Robert Trimble (3×great-grandfather) Abel Heywood (4×great-grandfather) William Malone (3×great-uncle) |
| Sport | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Sport | Athletics |
| Disability class | T43 |
| Club | Athletics Nelson |
| Coached by | Brodie Hewlett (2014–2016) James Mortimer (2016–2017) |
Medal record | |
Personal life
Malone was born in Nelson, the son of Murray Robert Malone and Trudi Scott.[4] He grew up in the suburb of Stoke and was educated at Nayland College.[5] He is the grandson of Peter Malone, who served as the mayor of Nelson from 1980 to 1992. He is also the great-great-great-grandson of Robert Trimble, a 19th-century member of the New Zealand Parliament, and the great-great-great-great-grandson of Abel Heywood, who served two separate terms as mayor of Manchester in the 1860s and 1870s. Malone is also the great-great-great-nephew of Lieutenant Colonel William George Malone, who commanded the Wellington Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli.[4]
Malone was born with fibular hemimelia (congenital absence of the fibula bone) in both legs. As a result, his legs were amputated just above his ankles when he was 18 months old.[6]
Career
As a double below-knee amputee, Malone is classified T43 for running events. His maximum permitted standing height on prosthetics is 1.877 m (6 ft 1.9 in).[7]
Malone was officially selected to represent New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Paralympics on 23 May 2016.[8] At the Paralympics, he won the silver medal in the men's 100 metres T44,[3] and the gold medals in the men's 200 metres T44 and men's 400 metres T44.[1][2] His two gold medals were achieved in Paralympic record time, taking the records from disgraced South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius.[9][10]
Malone was selected as New Zealand's flag bearer for the 2016 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony.[11] He was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2017 New Year Honours, for his services to athletics.[12]
Malone announced his retirement from athletics in January 2018.[13]
Malone began working in Artificial Intelligence start-up Soul Machines immediately after retirement. The company is led by Oscar Award winner Dr Mark Sagar.[14]
Malone is also a popular keynote speaker and is represented by Celebrity Speakers New Zealand.
Personal bests
| Event | Result (wind) | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 m (T43) | 10.90 (+0.9 m/s) | 8 September 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | AR[3] |
| 200 m (T43) | 21.06 (+0.6 m/s) | 12 September 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | PR, AR[1] |
| 400 m (T43) | 46.20 | 15 September 2016 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | PR[2] |