SJC congratulates golden Old Boy Evan O'Hanlon

St Joseph’s College congratulates Old Boy Evan O’Hanlon on his incredible and inspiring performances at the 2012 Paralympic Games.

Evan, who now holds five Paralympic gold medals from two Games, was given the honour of carrying the Australian flag during the closing ceremony of London 2012.

In London Evan won the Men’s 100m and 200m T38 events – breaking his own world records and repeating his success from four years ago in Beijing.

In the 200m, 24-year-old Evan shaved 0.16 seconds from his 200m world record, finishing in 21.82 seconds only days after a dominating win in the 100m.

Evan, who was born with cerebral palsy and experiences numbness down his left side caused by a prenatal stroke, is officially Australia’s fasted Paralympian ever. Before the London Games he said he was determined to not only win gold in his events, but set new world records.

In 2009 Evan received the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to sport as a gold medalist at the Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games. He is currently studying Landscape Architecture at university and is already planning on contesting his titles at the 2016 Paralympics in Rio.

Headmaster of St Joseph’s, Mr Ross Tarlinton, said the College community was extremely excited for Evan. “His performances were simply extraordinary and we look forward to welcoming him back to the College so we can congratulate him in person.”

“He is truly an inspiring young man and a great ambassador, not only for St Joseph’s College but for all people who dare to follow their dreams.”