Kevin Richard Coombs was an Australian wheelchair basketballer and athlete who competed at 5 Paralympics including the first Paralympic Games in 1960.
17 Facts About Kevin Coombs
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Kevin Coombs was the first Australian Aboriginal Paralympic competitor for Australia.
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Kevin Coombs grew up in rural Victoria in a large family.
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Kevin Coombs became a paraplegic at the age of 12 when he was accidentally shot in the back while out shooting rabbits.
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Kevin Coombs spent time at the Royal Austin Rehabilitation Hospital in Melbourne where he was introduced to sport as part of his rehabilitation program.
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Kevin Coombs competed in the first Australian championships in 1960 and was then selected to compete at the 1960 Summer Paralympics.
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Kevin Coombs only brought one wheelchair to the Paralympic Games, the wheelchair he used every day.
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Outside of sport, Kevin Coombs worked for the Victorian Department of Human Services until 2000.
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One of Kevin Coombs' daughters, Rose Falla, is the first Aboriginal magistrate in Victoria.
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Kevin Coombs participated in athletics events at the 1968 and 1972 Paralympics.
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Kevin Coombs captained the silver medal-winning Australian wheelchair basketball team at the 1974 Commonwealth Paraplegic Games in Dunedin, led the Australian team in gold medal performances at the 1977 and 1982 FESPIC Games, captained the team at the 1977 Silver Jubilee Games, and played in the 1983 Wheelchair Basketball World Championship.
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In 1983 Kevin Coombs received a Medal of the Order of Australia "in recognition of service to sport for the disabled and to Aboriginal welfare".
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Kevin Coombs had a street named after him at Sydney Olympic Park.
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In 2000, Kevin Coombs was selected as one of final torch bearers for the Paralympic torch relay during the 2000 Summer Paralympics opening, carrying the torch inside the Stadium Australia.
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In 2007, Kevin Coombs was inducted into the Australian Basketball Hall of Fame.
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In 2012, Kevin Coombs was inducted into the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll.
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Kevin Coombs was the first person conferred the 'PLY' postnominal letters.