Maria Strong (athlete)

{{short description|Australian Paralympic athlete}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2021}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Maria Strong

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| headercolor = green

| nickname = Maz

| nationality = Australian

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1971|3|11|df=yes}}

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| country = Australia

| sport = Paralympic athletics

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| club = Athletics Essendon

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| coach = John Eden

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{{Medal|Sport| Para-athletics }}

{{Medal|Country| {{AUS}} }}

{{Medal|Competition| Paralympic Games}}

{{Medal|Bronze| 2020 Tokyo | Women's shot put F33 }}

{{Medal|Competition|World Para Athletics Championships}}

{{Medal|Gold|2023 Paris|Women’s 100m T72}}

{{Medal|Silver|2023 Paris|Women’s Shot Put F33}}

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Maria Strong (born 11 March 1971) is an Australian Paralympic athlete. They won a bronze medal in Women's shot put F33 at the 2020 Summer Paralympics and a gold medal in the Women’s 100m T72 frame running and a silver medal in the Women's Shot Put F33 events at the 2023 World Para Athletics Championships.{{cite web |title=Paris 23: Strong and Drysdale crowned T72 world champions |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/paris-23-strong-and-drysdale-crowned-t72-world-champions |website=World Para Athletics |access-date=11 July 2023}} {{Cite web |date=16 July 2023 |title=Turner Lights Fuse as four Australians earn Paris Podium |url=https://www.athletics.com.au/news/turner-lights-fuse-as-four-australians-earn-paris-podium/ |access-date=17 July 2023 |website=Athletics Australia}}

They have been selected for the 2024 Paris Paralympics in Women's Shot put F33, where they finished 8th. {{Cite web |date=16 July 2024 |title=Fearnley Protégé Among Newest Members Of Australian Paralympic Team | Paralympics Australia |url=https://www.paralympic.org.au/2024/07/fearnley-protege-among-newest-members-of-australian-paralympic-team/ |access-date=22 July 2024 |website=paralympic.org.au |language=en-AU}}

Strong is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns.{{Cite web |last=Theil |first=Michele |date=31 August 2024 |title=These are the five LGBTQ+ athletes competing in the Paralympic athletics events |url=https://www.thepinknews.com/2024/08/31/these-are-the-five-lgbtq-athletes-competing-in-the-paralympic-athletics-events/ |access-date=12 October 2024 |website=PinkNews}}