Rheed McCracken

McCracken was born on 20 January 1997, and is from Bundaberg.{{cite web |author=Vanessa Marsh |url=http://www.news-mail.com.au/story/2011/12/06/bundy-boy-rheed-set-for-2012-paralympics/ |title=Bundy boy set for 2012 Paralympics |publisher=Bundaberg News Mail |date=6 December 2011 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=24 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924050643/http://www.news-mail.com.au/story/2011/12/06/bundy-boy-rheed-set-for-2012-paralympics/ |url-status=live}} McCracken has cerebral palsy, a condition he was born with.{{cite web |url=http://www.paralympic.org.au/team/rheed-mccracken |title=Rheed McCracken |publisher=Australia Paralympic Committee |date=20 January 1997 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=24 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924031536/http://www.paralympic.org.au/team/rheed-mccracken |url-status=live}} He started using a wheelchair in late 2009 because it was less painful. He attended Avoca State School.{{cite web |last=Habermann |first=Vince |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/09/24/2372765.htm |title=Weekend sporting action for September 20 and 21 – |publisher=ABC Wide Bay Qld — Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=24 September 2008 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=15 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315042344/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/09/24/2372765.htm |url-status=live}} He later attended Bundaberg State High School.He has completed a TAFE Certificate 3 in Community Pharmacy.

File:050912 - Rheed McCracken - 3b - 2012 Summer Paralympics.jpg

McCracken is a wheelchair racer, competing in the T34 class. He competes in 100 metres, 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres and 1,500 metres.

He began competing in athletics in 2005, and started wheelchair racing in 2010. He is a member of the Bundaberg Athletic Club.

File:060912 - Rheed McCracken - 3b - 2012 Summer Paralympics (02).jpg

In 2008, at the Queensland 12 years and under Track and Field Championships, McCracken came in first place in the boys 11 years AWD 100m, 200m, long jump, shot put and discus events. In 2008, he participated in the Pan Pacific Games in Canberra. He took home first place in the Athletes With a Disability (AWD) 11 years boys' 100m, long jump, shot put and discus events.{{cite web |last=Habermann |first=Vince |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/12/18/2449859.htm |title=Local sporting action for December 13 and 14 |publisher=ABC Wide Bay Qld — Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=18 December 2008 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=23 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923085326/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/12/18/2449859.htm |url-status=live}} In 2009, he participated in the Queensland State Championships in the boys 12 years Athletes With a Disability long jump, 100m, discus and shot put events, winning every one of them.{{cite web |last=Habermann |first=Vince |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/10/30/2728591.htm |title=Sporting action for the weekend of October 24 and 25 |publisher=ABC Wide Bay Qld — Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=30 October 2009 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=23 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923085312/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/10/30/2728591.htm |url-status=live}}

In 2010, McCracken competed in the Queensland Secondary Schools Championships, where he won the AWD boys 400m event.{{cite web |author=Vince Habermann |url=http://www.news-mail.com.au/story/2010/10/22/gold-rush-bundaberg-athletics-state-titles/ |title=Gold rush continues for athletes | |publisher=Bundaberg News Mail |date=22 October 2010 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=24 November 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124012152/http://www.news-mail.com.au/story/2010/10/22/gold-rush-bundaberg-athletics-state-titles/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |author=Vince Habermann |url=http://www.news-mail.com.au/story/2010/12/31/this-ones-a-keeper-pfa-award-for-mitch/ |title=PFA award for Mitch |publisher=Bundaberg News Mail |date=31 December 2010 |access-date=9 July 2012}} That year, he also competed at the Queensland State Championships and the Australian National Championships.

In 2011, McCracken made his Australian national team debut During 2011, in preparation for the Paralympics, he completed six total training sessions a week. He finished third at the Gold Coast Airport Marathon's wheelchair half-marathon in July 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/07/02/329391_gold-coast-marathon.html |title=Sam's a champion on a roll Gold Coast Events | goldcoast.com.au | Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia |publisher=goldcoast.com.au |date=2 July 2011 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=6 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120706192808/http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2011/07/02/329391_gold-coast-marathon.html |url-status=live}} In 2011, he competed in Sydney's City2Surf event in the first year the event had an elite wheelchair category.{{cite web |url=http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/news/local/sport/other/wheelchair-racers-tackle-city2surf/2254706.aspx |title=Wheelchair racers tackle City2Surf |publisher=Western Advocate |date=11 August 2011 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=26 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111226115254/http://www.westernadvocate.com.au/news/local/sport/other/wheelchair-racers-tackle-city2surf/2254706.aspx |url-status=live}} In December, he competed at the 2011 International Wheelchair and Amputee Championships in Dubai, where he won the 100 metre wheelchair racing event with a time of 16.86 seconds.{{cite web |author=Vince Habermann |url=http://www.cqnews.com.au/story/2011/12/09/paralympics-within-reach/ |title=Paralympics within reach |publisher=Central Queensland News |date=9 December 2011 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604061438/https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/central-queensland?nk=90fab94f946922fba8d208bc7cfe4925-1622787278 |url-status=live}} The time qualified him for the 2012 Paralympics as the qualifying time was 17 seconds. Other events he competed in included the 200 metres, 400 metres, 800 metres and 1,500 metres, taking silver in the 400 metres, 800 metres and 1,500 metres events. He was half a second slow in the 200 metres event from setting a Paralympic qualifying time. Making his national team debut, he was one of the youngest members of the Australian team at the event. In December 2011, he participated in a national athletics team training camp in Canberra.

File:AustralianParalympianOfTheYear 107.JPG

In January 2012, McCracken participated in the Australia Day Series in Canberra,{{cite web |url=http://www.blayneychronicle.com.au/news/local/sport/other/kurts-record-breaking-australia-day-performance/2433747.aspx?storypage=0 |title=Kurt's record breaking Australia Day performance |publisher=Blayney Chronicle |date=26 January 2012 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604061527/https://www.blayneychronicle.com.au/story/1087478/kurts-record-breaking-australia-day-performance/ |url-status=live}} where he finished second with a time of 24.38 in the junior race. In January 2012, he trained in Sydney. He later trained with Kurt Fearnley in Newcastle. In January 2012, he finished second the Oz Day 10K men's junior division.{{cite web |url=http://www.blacktownsun.com.au/news/national/national/general/straight-eight-has-fearnley-eyeing-paralympic-gold/2434361.aspx |title=Straight eight has Fearnley eyeing Paralympic gold |publisher=Blacktown Sun |date=27 January 2012 |access-date=9 July 2012 |archive-date=30 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200730005807/https://www.hawkesburygazette.com.au/story/944175/straight-eight-has-fearnley-eyeing-paralympic-gold/ |url-status=live}} He was selected to represent Australia at the 2012 Summer Paralympics in athletics{{cite news |last=Hegarty |first=Laura |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-05/teen-wheelchair-athelete-heading-to-paralympics/3713474?section=qld |title=Teen wheelchair athlete heading to Paralympics |publisher=ABC News |location=Australia |date=5 December 2011 |access-date=8 July 2012 |archive-date=23 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180923085316/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-12-05/teen-wheelchair-athelete-heading-to-paralympics/3713474?section=qld |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=Walters sprints for London — Teenager set for Paralympics debut |newspaper=The Canberra Times |location=Canberra, Australia |date=7 June 2012 |access-date=8 July 2012 |url=http://infoweb.newsbank.com/iw-search/we/InfoWeb?p_action=doc&p_topdoc=1&p_docnum=1&p_sort=YMD_date:D&p_product=AUNB&p_text_direct-0=document_id=%28%2013F40FE137A836F8%20%29&p_docid=13F40FE137A836F8&p_theme=aggdocs&p_queryname=13F40FE137A836F8&f_openurl=yes&p_nbid=B54F53WLMTM0MTcyODA3MC45Mjc5NjQ6MTo1OjE5Mzg1&&p_multi=ATMB}} in the 100 metre and 200 metre events. He qualified for the Games in December 2011 as a fourteen-year-old.

At the 2012 Summer Paralympics McCracken won a silver in the Men's 100 m T34 and a bronze in the Men's 200 m T34.{{cite web |url=https://www.paralympic.org/rheed-mccracken |title=Rheed McCracken |website=Paralympic.org |publisher=International Paralympic Committee |access-date=6 October 2012}} Competing at the 2013 IPC Athletics World Championships in Lyon, France, he won three silver medals in the Men's 100 m, 200 m T34 and Men's 400 m and a bronze medal in Men's 800 m T34.

At the 2016 Rio Paralympics, he won the silver medal in the Men's 100 m T34 and a bronze medal in the Men's 800 m T34.{{cite web |title=Rheed McCracken |url=https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/athlete/rheed-mccracken |website=Rio Paralympics Official site |access-date=13 September 2016 |archive-date=22 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922202324/https://www.rio2016.com/en/paralympics/athlete/rheed-mccracken |url-status=live}}

At the Swiss National Championships in Arbon on 28 May 2017, McCracken set a new world record in the Men's 100m T34 with a time of 14.92.{{cite web |title=Lakatos, Cockroft and Ktila all smash world records |url=https://www.paralympic.org/news/lakatos-cockroft-and-ktila-all-smash-world-records |website=International Paralympic Committee website |access-date=28 May 2017 |archive-date=13 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813023451/https://www.paralympic.org/news/lakatos-cockroft-and-ktila-all-smash-world-records |url-status=live}}

At the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships in London, England, McCracken won the silver medal in the Men's 100m T34 (15.40 (+0.3)) and a bronze medal in the Men's 200m T34 (27.81 (-1.5)).{{cite web |title=Wrap: Aussies in medals at Para World Champs |url=http://www.athletics.com.au/News/wrap-aussies-in-medals-at-para-world-champs |website=Athletics Australia News, 19 July 2017 |access-date=19 July 2017 |archive-date=3 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170903211319/http://www.athletics.com.au/News/wrap-aussies-in-medals-at-para-world-champs |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Ryner |first1=Sascha |title=Photo decider sees O'Hanlon reclaim glory |url=http://www.athletics.com.au/News/photo-decider-sees-ohanlon-reclaim-glory |website=Athletics Australia News |access-date=21 July 2017 |archive-date=28 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171028201555/http://www.athletics.com.au/News/photo-decider-sees-ohanlon-reclaim-glory |url-status=live}}

At the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai, he won his third world championship silver medal in the Men's 100 m T34.{{Cite web |url=https://www.athletics.com.au/news/world-para-athletics-championships-dubai-day-4-recap/ |title=World Para Athletics Championships Dubai – Day 4 Recap |website=Athletics Australia |access-date=11 November 2019 |archive-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604061441/https://www.athletics.com.au/news/world-para-athletics-championships-dubai-day-4-recap/ |url-status=live}}

File:McCracken after 100m Tokyo MM edit.jpg

At the 2020 Tokyo Summer Paralympics, he won the silver medal in the Men's 100m T34. McCracken finished seventh in his Men's 800m T34 heat and qualified for the final. He came sixth in the final and failed to win a medal in this event.{{Cite web |title=Rheed McCracken |url=https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/athletics/athlete-profile-n1416009-mccracken-rheed.htm |access-date=28 September 2021 |work=Tokyo 2020 Paralympics |publisher=Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games |archive-date=28 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928054234/https://olympics.com/tokyo-2020/paralympic-games/en/results/athletics/athlete-profile-n1416009-mccracken-rheed.htm |url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |date=17 April 2021 |title=Para-athletics Stars Perris and Turner Secure Their Paralympic Passage to Tokyo |url=https://www.paralympic.org.au/2021/04/para-athletics-stars-perris-and-turner-secure-their-paralympic-passage-to-tokyo/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 April 2021 |website=Paralympics Australia |archive-date=28 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210428234522/https://www.paralympic.org.au/2021/04/para-athletics-stars-perris-and-turner-secure-their-paralympic-passage-to-tokyo/}}

At the 2024 Paris Paralympics, he won the bronze medal in the Men's 800m T34 and finished fourth in the Men's 100m T34.{{Cite web |title=Australian Athletics Results |url=https://athletics.possumbility.com/athletes/athlete6561.htm |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=athletics.possumbility.com}}

He is coached by Louise Sauvage OAM.{{cite news |title=Evan O'Hanlon claims second gold medal at the IPC World Athletics Championships |url=http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/evan-ohanlon-claims-second-gold-medal-at-the-ipc-world-athletics-championships/story-e6frfkp9-1226684698855#ixzz2a0NL4fUQ |date=25 July 2013 |work=News Limited Network |access-date=24 July 2013 |archive-date=4 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604060533/https://www.foxsports.com.au/more-sports/evan-ohanlon-claims-second-gold-medal-at-the-ipc-world-athletics-championships/news-story/8472157d0049c830e0e640acb8ee4ff6#ixzz2a0NL4fUQ |url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=IPC13: Ballard wins third Silver |url=http://www.athletics.com.au/home/news/news/2013/july/ipc13_ballard_wins_third_sil |work=Athletics Australia News |date=26 July 2013 |access-date=26 July 2013 |archive-date=3 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903110051/http://www.athletics.com.au/home/news/news/2013/july/ipc13_ballard_wins_third_sil=26 |url-status=live}}

• 2012 Junior Athlete of the Year as part of the Australian Paralympian of the Year Awards.
• 2016 – Junior Male Athlete of the Year – Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association.{{cite web |title=2016 Annual Awards winners |url=http://www.sportingwheelies.org.au/2016-annual-awards-winners/ |website=Sporting Wheelies and Disabled Association website |access-date=15 December 2016 |archive-date=20 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220155728/http://www.sportingwheelies.org.au/2016-annual-awards-winners/ |url-status=dead}}

{{clear}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.athletics.com.au/athlete/rheed-mccracken/ Rheed McCracken] at Australian Athletics
• [https://athletics.possumbility.com/athletes/athlete6561.htm Rheed McCracken] at Australian Athletics Historical Results
• {{Paralympics Australia|rheed-mccracken}}
• {{IPC|rheed-mccracken|old_id=1051738&WinterGames=-1}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20241006172441/https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024-paralympics/athlete/rheed-mccracken_3415278 Rheed McCracken] at the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympics (archived, [https://paris2024.rtve.es/es/paris-2024-paralimpicos/atleta/rheed-mccracken_3415278 alternate link])

{{2024 Australian Paralympic Team}}

{{2016 Australian Paralympic Team}}

{{2012 Australian Paralympic Team}}

{{Portal bar|Australia|Biography|Sports|Athletics}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:McCracken, Rheed}}

Category:Paralympic athletes for Australia

Category:Living people

Category:1997 births

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2012 Summer Paralympics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2016 Summer Paralympics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2020 Summer Paralympics

Category:Athletes (track and field) at the 2024 Summer Paralympics

Category:Paralympic silver medalists for Australia

Category:Paralympic bronze medalists for Australia

Category:Wheelchair category Paralympic competitors

Category:World record holders in para-athletics

Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Paralympics

Category:Medalists at the 2016 Summer Paralympics

Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Paralympics

Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Paralympics

Category:Sportspeople from Bundaberg

Category:Athletes from Queensland

Category:Paralympic medalists in athletics (track and field)