PORT Macquarie wheelchair rugby athlete Ryley Batt has admitted the second Paralympic gold medal he received was better than the first.
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Batt and the Australian Steelers claimed gold on Monday morning with a 59-58 win over the United States.
“London was magical because it was the first one, but this one meant a lot more,” he said.
“In London we never got to play the US and they said they would beat Australia, but we beat them which makes it even sweeter.
“I can’t wait to get back to Port Macquarie.”
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council mayor Peter Besseling joined the chorus of applause for Batt.
“It’s a testament to his dedication to his sport to get two gold medals,” Besseling said.
“Anyone that’s seen him training on the netball courts and the effort he puts in can’t help but be impressed by what he’s done.”
Besseling said Batt was a “tremendous ambassador for our community”.
“We all know how good he is in Port Macquarie, but now the rest of the world sees him as a champion,” he said.
We all know how good he is in Port Macquarie, but now the rest of the world sees him as a champion.
- Port Macquarie-Hastings Council mayor Peter Besseling
The mayor said there was a sense of “absolute pride that one of our very own has another gold medal”.
“We look forward to seeing him back home with a gold medal hanging around his neck,” he said.
