Louise Sauvage OAM

Louise Sauvage is one of Australia’s most decorated Paralympic athletes and a pioneering force in disability sport. A nine-time Paralympic gold medallist and four-time silver medallist, Louise has reshaped perceptions of elite athletes with a disability and inspired audiences worldwide with her extraordinary achievements.

Beginning her international career at just 18, Louise dominated wheelchair track racing at the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics and went on to achieve historic victories at the Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, as well as the Athens 2004 Paralympics. She has broken multiple world records across distances from 100m to 5000m and won prestigious international road races, including the Boston, Los Angeles, Berlin, and Honolulu Marathons.

Beyond her medals, Louise has received numerous accolades including the Order of Australia, Australian Paralympian of the Year, Australian Institute of Sport Athlete of the Year, and World Sportsperson of the Year with a Disability at the inaugural Laureus Awards. She has carried the Olympic Torch in both Sydney and Athens and was honoured with the ‘Louise Sauvage Pathway’ at the Sydney Olympic/Paralympic site for her lifetime contribution to sport.

Now Assistant National Coach for the NSW Institute of Sport, Louise mentors the next generation of Australian wheelchair track and road athletes, sharing her expertise, resilience, and passion for sport. A compelling and inspirational speaker, Louise motivates audiences with her story of determination, excellence, and breaking barriers—both on and off the track.