Paralympians Pumped for Rio

Nine members of the Funky Trunks F-Team are off to Rio.

Funky Trunks is excited to have nine Paralympians on the F-Team heading to Rio! Read below for the inside scoop on these Funky Trunks stars!

Blake Cochrane (left) and Jacob Templeton (right)

Blake Cochrane

25-year-old USC Spartans swimmer Blake Cochrane will be defending his SB7 100m breaststroke title in Rio and is hoping to come away with another gold medal. Blake competed in Beijing 2008 where he took silver in the event before he got the top spot on the podium at London 2012. His 1:18.77 time was also a world record.

At the 2015 IPC World Championships in Glasgow, Blake took silver in the 100m breaststroke SB7 which means he is now ranked second in the world for his specialist event.

"I'd love to be able to defend my title, although I am going in ranked second. I'll be doing everything in my power to come out as number one again!" he says.

Blake will also be competing in the 400m freestyle S8, 100 freestyle S8 and the 50 freestyle.

Jacob Templeton

Jacob Templeton will be racing in the S13 400m freestyle and 200m individual medley in Rio. Jacob was very excited to get his boarding pass.

"Qualifying means everything to me. Swimming has been part of my life since I was a young kid and to reach the very top of my sport is such an honour and fills with me pride," he says.

Jacob also trains with the USC Spartans at the University of Sunshine Coast and accredits his family as being the biggest influence on his swimming journey.

"Being vision impaired I'm unable to drive so even the simple things like having people who wake up early in the morning to support me is something I am so thankful for. They helped me along and through tough days where I had to continually back up training with school, and they ensured I had a roof over my head and food to eat," he says.

Braedan Jason (left) and Michael Anderson (right)

Braedan Jason

For Braedan Jason, another USC Spartans Swim Team member, competing in Rio has been a dream of his since he was young.

"To have the privilege to represent the green and gold is every child's dream growing up in our country's sporting culture, so to be able to do so on the largest sporting scene is truly humbling," he says.

Braedan will be competing in two S13 classified events in Rio: 400m freestyle and 100m butterfly.

Michael Anderson OAM

Michael Anderson received an Order of Australia for his service to sport in 2014 and is pursuing an elusive individual gold medal in Rio. Michael won a silver medal in the 100m backstroke S10 at Beijing 2008 while battling a shoulder injury, and at London 2012 he won gold in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay and bronze in the 4 x 100m medley relay.

For Michael, the key difference for Rio is in the way he's approaching the competition.

"I went into Beijing very naive, then at the opposite end of the spectrum with too much pressure on me in London that I didn't enjoy the experience. Rio 2016 will be about finding the middle ground to allow myself to take in the whole experience and not to exert too much pressure on myself," he reveals.

Michael hasn't let nerve damage in his leg caused by meningitis and a hearing impairment stand in his way as he pushes himself further along his sporting journey. He credits his parents as being his biggest influences.

"Their unwavering support from day one in my pursuit of a swimming career has been outstanding and I'll never be able to thank them enough for the time and effort that they have both put in for more than a decade."

Michael is another Funky Trunker who swims with the USC Spartans Swim Club at the Sunshine Coast.

Rick Pendleton (left) and Logan Powell (right)

Rick Pendleton OAM

Triple gold medallist and experienced Paralympian Rick Pendleton is ready to add Rio to his sports CV having previously raced in Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Over the years Rick has earned an impressive medal collection with one gold from Athens, two gold from Beijing and two bronze in London.

The moment Rick qualified for Rio was a relief, having felt the weight of expectation in the build up to trials.

"It was a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. Despite that this is my fourth time I felt a lot of pressure still to perform and make the team," he says.

Rick juggles training with the USC Spartans with work and family commitments insists he wouldn't have it any other way.

Logan Powell

Logan Powell can't wait to make his debut in Rio and fulfil his swimming dream. While Logan has one key goal in mind for Rio, he is also aware of the importance of enjoying the experience.

"The ultimate goal is to better my times, but it is also important to soak in and enjoy this opportunity as it may never come around again," he says.

Logan credits his coach at the USC Spartans, Jan Cameron, and his parents for their unwavering support in helping him fulfil his dream.

"Jan has always been very supportive for me and my family, and my family has been my backbone. Without them I wouldn't be swimming at this level."

Logan will be competing in the 400m freestyle which is on day two of the competition.

Guy Harrison-Murray (left) and Sean Russo (right)

Guy Harrison-Murray

Guy Harrison-Murray, the newest member of the Funky Trunks team, is overwhelmed with his selection onto the team headed to Rio and can't wait to travel with his USC Spartans team mates.

"The thing I'm looking forward to the most is going with the whole group that I have trained and worked hard with for the last nine months. Going together will be very special," he says.

For 19-year-old Guy, swimming has been a part of his life for many years, having started swimming when he was just three. Guy and his family migrated to Australia in 2011 and he was granted Australian citizenship in 2015.

Guy is a S10 classified swimmer and will be racing in the 50m freestyle.

Sean Russo

Second time Paralympian Sean Russo is honoured to be on the Australian team and to race the best athletes in the world. Vision impaired, Sean made his national team debut in 2010 at the IPC Swimming World Championships and believes his qualification for Rio is the biggest achievement in his career.

"It means the world to me to get the opportunity to represent Australia on the biggest stage possible," he says.

Sean competed at London 2012 where came fourth in his specialist event, the 100m backstroke S13, just missing a spot on the podium. He hopes to change that in Rio.

"My goal is definitely to win a medal, as well as to perform at my very best."

Sean has been training with the MLC Marlins in NSW and appreciates the support that the club and his family have given him as he swims toward his goal.

Funky Trunks F-Teamer Ahmed Kelly

Ahmed Kelly

Melbourne swimmer Ahmed Kelly is another of Funky Trunks Paralympians and is hoping to improve on his result from London 2012. Ahmed trains with Melbourne Vic Centre and you can read more about his journey to Rio here.