Liam Bevan Malone MNZM (born 23 December 1993) is a former New Zealand para-athlete, primarily competing in sprint events. He represented New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, where he won gold medals in the men's 200 metres T44[1] and 400 metres T44,[2] and the silver medal in the men's 100 metres T44.[3]

Liam Malone
Malone in 2017
Personal information
Birth nameLiam Bevan Malone
Born (1993-12-23) 23 December 1993 (age 30)
Nelson, New Zealand
Relative(s)Peter Malone (grandfather)
Robert Trimble (3×great-grandfather)
Abel Heywood (4×great-grandfather)
William Malone (3×great-uncle)
Sport
CountryNew Zealand
SportAthletics
Disability classT43
ClubAthletics Nelson
Coached byBrodie Hewlett (2014–2016)
James Mortimer (2016–2017)
Medal record
Men's para athletics
Representing  New Zealand
Summer Paralympics
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 200 metres T44
Gold medal – first place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 400 metres T44
Silver medal – second place 2016 Rio de Janeiro 100 metres T44

Personal life

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Malone was born in Nelson, the son of Murray Robert Malone and Trudi Scott.[4] He grew up in the suburb of Stoke and was educated at Nayland College.[5] He is the grandson of Peter Malone, who served as the mayor of Nelson from 1980 to 1992. He is also the great-great-great-grandson of Robert Trimble, a 19th-century member of the New Zealand Parliament, and the great-great-great-great-grandson of Abel Heywood, who served two separate terms as mayor of Manchester in the 1860s and 1870s. Malone is also the great-great-great-nephew of Lieutenant Colonel William George Malone, who commanded the Wellington Infantry Battalion at Gallipoli.[4]

Malone was born with fibular hemimelia (congenital absence of the fibula bone) in both legs. As a result, his legs were amputated just above his ankles when he was 18 months old.[6]

Career

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As a double below-knee amputee, Malone is classified T43 for running events. His maximum permitted standing height on prosthetics is 1.877 m (6 ft 1.9 in).[7]

Malone was officially selected to represent New Zealand at the 2016 Summer Paralympics on 23 May 2016.[8] At the Paralympics, he won the silver medal in the men's 100 metres T44,[3] and the gold medals in the men's 200 metres T44 and men's 400 metres T44.[1][2] His two gold medals were achieved in Paralympic record time, taking the records from disgraced South African sprinter Oscar Pistorius.[9][10]

Malone was selected as New Zealand's flag bearer for the 2016 Summer Paralympics closing ceremony.[11] He was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2017 New Year Honours, for his services to athletics.[12]

Malone announced his retirement from athletics in January 2018.[13]

Malone began working in Artificial Intelligence start-up Soul Machines immediately after retirement. The company is led by Oscar Award winner Dr Mark Sagar.[14]

Malone is also a popular keynote speaker and is represented by Celebrity Speakers New Zealand.[1]

Personal bests

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Event Result (wind) Date Location Notes
100 m (T43) 10.90 (+0.9 m/s) 8 September 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil AR[3]
200 m (T43) 21.06 (+0.6 m/s) 12 September 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil PR, AR[1]
400 m (T43) 46.20 15 September 2016 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil PR[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Results -- Men's 200 metres T44 -- Rio 2016 Paralympic Games" (PDF). International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  2. ^ a b c "Results -- Men's 400 metres T44 -- Rio 2016 Paralympic Games" (PDF). International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  3. ^ a b c "Results -- Men's 100 metres T44 -- Rio 2016 Paralympic Games" (PDF). International Paralympic Committee. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 September 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  4. ^ a b "The family of Lt. Colonel William Malone". 14 September 2016. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  5. ^ Rollo, Phillip (12 September 2016). "Stoke it up! Paralympic Games sprinter Liam Malone's hometown shout out". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  6. ^ "Legless Liam Malone is blade-running to Rio". Stuff.co.nz. 1 November 2014. Retrieved 13 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Classification Master List, Summer Season 2016 – New Zealand". IPC Athletics. Retrieved 16 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Paralympics New Zealand name six track and field athletes for Rio". Stuff.co.nz. 23 May 2016. Retrieved 5 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Oscar Pistorius record smashed by NZ's Liam Malone at Rio Games". ITV News. 13 September 2016. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  10. ^ Pearson, Joseph (16 September 2016). "Rio Paralympics: Liam Malone breaks another Oscar Pistorius record to win 400m T44". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Rio Paralympics: Liam Malone to carry flag for New Zealand at closing ceremony". Stuff.co.nz. 18 September 2016. Retrieved 18 September 2016.
  12. ^ "New Year Honours List 2017". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 31 December 2016.
  13. ^ "Paralympian Liam Malone announces retirement". New Zealand Herald. 9 January 2018. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  14. ^ "Retired paralympian Liam Malone swaps the track for career in technology". Stuff. Retrieved 7 November 2018.
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Awards
Preceded by Halberg Awards – Disabled Sportsperson of the Year
2016
Succeeded by
Sophie Pascoe